Rajasthan High Court Grants More Time To Centre To Respond On Plea For Issuance Of Temporary Ration Cards, Extension Of Visas For Pakistan Minority Migrants

The Division Bench comprising Justice Sangeet Lodha and Justice Rameshwar Vyas noted that the Additional Advocate General has already filed a counter affidavit on behalf of the State Government. However, the counsel appearing for the Union of India has sought some more time to file its reply.

"Learned counsel appearing for the respondent-Union of India seeks three weeks' further time to file counter to the additional submissions filed on behalf of Pakistan Minority Migrants. Time prayed for is allowed," the order stated.

The case pertains to a suo moto case registered by the High Court in the year 2017, concerned by the plight and predicaments of persons belonging to minorities in Pakistan as well as Bangladesh, being discriminated for socio-economic and political reasons, who migrated to India seeking shelter in India.

The case revolves around issuance of temporary ration cards and extension of NORI (no objection to return to India) visa for such migrants. [NORI visa, migrants are permitted to visit their country for a period of 60 days.]

In the case at hand, the issue is that many migrants are not being permitted to return to India as their visas have expired.

Related developments

It is significant to note that during the pendency of the petition, the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act came into force on January 10, 2020, liberalizing the grant of citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who had entered India before December 31, 2014.

Pursuant to this, the Amicus curie argued before the Court that 'minority refugees' should either be provided temporary ration cards or they should be allowed free ration until framing of Rules under the CAA.

Meanwhile, Government has extended the time period stipulated for framing of the said rules.

Case Title: Suo Moto v Union of India & Anr.

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