Supreme Court stays deportation of Libyan student

The Supreme Court today stayed the impending deportation of a Libyan national Aiad Amar Saad Mohammad, studying in Jharkhand, back to his country on the grounds of ongoing civil war there.

A bench of Justice Markandy Katju and Justice Gyan sudha Mishra halted Saad Mohammad's deportation after his counsel Shinoj Narain apprised the court of his urgent petition, presently pending with its registery, against the impending government's action.

Narain pleaded to the court that the visa of the Ranchi University scholar was going to lapse on March 17 and the authorities were not willing to extend it despite the ongoing turmoil in his home country.

Pleading for extension of his visa, Narain argued that government of India has sufficient power to extend his visa and the refusal to extend his stay despite the ongoing civil war in his country would amount to violation of the petitioner's fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, which is available to the foreign nationals also.

Agreeing with Narain's contention, the bench said it was "staying the deportation on humanitarian ground" and issued notice to the Centre to respond to the plea within four weeks.

As the counsel wanted to make further submission, the bench cut his argument short saying, "Do you want to go to Japan otherwise?"