A group of 30 Pakistani nationals finds themselves in a state of uncertainty at the transit camp within Amritsar Central Jail, their return home remaining elusive despite the completion of their sentences.
In response to this situation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, amidst sentiments of longing and hope, has directed the Union of India to take necessary steps in coordination with the Pakistani Embassy to facilitate their repatriation.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, expressed skepticism over claims made in a communication presented to the court regarding the requirement of travel documents from the Pakistan High Commission for the repatriation of two Pakistani juveniles.
During the resumed hearing, a letter dated March 28 was submitted to the Bench, highlighting the purported lack of travel documents for the juveniles as the reason for their delayed repatriation.
In response, the Bench referred to an order from the Tarn Taran Juvenile Justice Board, dated April 18, 2023, which indicated that the juveniles had been acquitted under the provisions of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, suggesting their inadvertent entry due to adverse weather conditions. In light of these findings, the Bench deemed the requirement of travel documents from the Pakistan High Commission as baseless and called for the presence of AFRRO, ICP Attari Road, Amritsar, on the next hearing date, unless the repatriation of the juveniles occurs beforehand.
The court further directed attention to an affidavit regarding the prolonged confinement of the 30 Pakistani nationals post-sentence completion, emphasizing the need for the issuance of requisite travel documents for deportation to be facilitated.
Acknowledging the procedural hurdles outlined in the affidavit, the Bench urged the Union of India to take necessary steps for repatriation in coordination with the Pakistan Embassy, stressing the importance of completion of sentence, consular access, confirmation of nationality, and issuance of travel documents by the Government of Pakistan for the repatriation process to proceed.
The high court had initiated suo motu proceedings on the matter following the appeal of two Pakistani juveniles detained despite serving their sentences, which were brought to the attention of Justice N S Shekhawat, the administrative judge of the Faridkot Sessions Division.