Supreme Court Halts Deportation of Kashmir-Based Family Facing Removal to Pakistan

The Supreme Court halted the deportation of a Kashmir-based family to Pakistan, ordering authorities to verify their identity documents first. The family claimed they had valid Indian papers. This comes amid intensified scrutiny of Pakistani nationals after the Pahalgam terror attack. Authorities assured no action would be taken until verification is complete.

In a significant intervention, the Supreme Court of India on Friday stayed the deportation of a Kashmir-based family to Pakistan, granting them temporary relief while their citizenship claims are verified. The family, led by Ahmed Tarek Butt, had been taken to the Wagah border and were reportedly on the verge of deportation despite possessing Indian identity documents.

The apex court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, directed authorities not to take any coercive action against the six family members until their documentation—including passports, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards—is thoroughly examined. The court did not specify a timeline for the verification process but emphasized that no final action should be taken in the meantime.

The case drew attention in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Following the attack, the government had intensified scrutiny of Pakistani nationals residing in India, issuing 'Leave India' notices to many, especially those whose visa status was unclear. In the last week alone, over 900 Pakistani nationals reportedly exited India through the Attari-Wagah border.

Advocate Nanda Kishore, representing the family, argued that they were unfairly targeted and bundled into a vehicle for deportation despite their legal presence in India. He added that the family’s patriarch had entered India in 1987 with a valid visa and had since surrendered his Pakistani passport.

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The Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, acknowledged the family's right to present their case and assured the court that no further action would be taken until a decision on their status was reached. The court also clarified that its order should not be treated as a legal precedent, allowing future cases to be judged independently.