J&K High Court says, ‘Ek-band Bhog’, against setting up a legal example.
Srinagar, Aug 01, KDC: In an important development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court that it has decided to give a visitor visa to Pakistani national Rakshanda Rashid, which was deported from India after the Pahgam terror attack.
The Division Bench consisted of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, as reported by the Srinagar -based news agency Kashmir.comThe Union Ministry’s decision was filed to formally grant visas. However, the court said that the arrangement “will not set an example in any way.”
Representing the MHA, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that “after much deliberation and considering the specialty of the facts … one-wise decision has been taken by the authority to give a visitor visa to the defendant by the authority.” He assured the court that the authorities will make a visitor process and compromise for the defendant as soon as possible after the completion of the formalities.
The bench mentioned that this-principle decision was only based on the unique circumstances of the case and “would not set up an example in any way,” to upheld a comprehensive legal trend on such exile.
Representing Rakshand Rashid, senior advocate Surinder Karor informed the court that his clients were “fully agreed” to the proposed resolution, which began on 29 April, 2025 after Rashid’s exile, which started in view of the mass removal of the government after the Pahalgam attack.
Rakshand Rashid, 62, was deported after canceling all Pakistani visas as a security measure. Although his long -term visa (LTV) ended in January, he applied for a renewal, which was still subject to the process when he was served “Leave India notice”.
On 6 June, a single judge bench ordered Rashid’s return to India, the decision “SOS-like bhog” and marrying an Indian citizen in light of his 38-year stay in the country. The MHA later challenged the order, ensuring that his visa had already missed at the time of his exile.
Rashid’s family had previously accused procedural laps, claiming that his application for LTV renewal was subject to active consideration when he was forcibly deported. Her daughter, Fatima Sheikh expressed concern over her mother’s ordinance in Pakistan, where she allegedly had “no relatives or financial assistance.”
MHA now agreed to issue a visitor visa, the case has reached a human resolution, although with a strong legal limitations mentioned by the court. (KDC)
