HC notice to Centre, Rajasthan government on Hindu migrants from Pakistan
JODHPUR: Taking serious note of the condition of Hindu migrants from Pakistan, the Rajasthan High Court has issued a notice to the state and central governments seeking their response on why the matter of granting citizenship to them has been lingering.
The court also took note of a recent case, wherein a migrant family was deported to Pakistan by officials for alleged violation of visa rules.
While listing the matter for hearing on August 24, the court has also deputed two amici curiae to assist it.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the issue, a division bench of Justices Govind Mathur and Vineet Kumar Mathur observed that the marks of the tragedy of partition are still deep in the memories and life of these migrants.
They are forced to live in miserable, inhuman conditions in Bangladesh and Pakistan on account of social and political discrimination as they are a minority community, the court said.
It stated that in such a condition, these people seek refuge in India expecting a dignified and fearless life. But citing rules, they are again forced back to Pakistan, where their miseries begin again.
"These migrants are subjected to fresh miseries after coming to India against their expectation of a peaceful and respectable life here," the court observed.
It took a serious note of lingering issue of grant of citizenship to about 22,000 migrants despite various notifications and circulars aimed at simplification of the procedure of application for citizenship and expediting the process of granting them citizenship.