[Tablighi Jamaat] We Can Only Express Hope That Revision Petitions Be Disposed Off Expeditiously, Says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed the hope that the revision applications against the discharge of foreigners in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat be heard and disposed expeditiously."There were 8 petitioners who have been discharged entirely. The revision applications (against the discharge) are listed on November 10. Our only request is that the applications may be decided on 10th itself, please. Because for even those who have been completely discharged, the litigation has been protracted...the State is (cutting off)", began Senior Advocate Meneka Guruswamy."Before which court are they listed?", asked Justice Khanwilkar.When he was informed that the competent Additional Sessions Judge is due to hear them, the judge observed, "We can only express hope that the applications will be proceeded with..."."As regards the 36 others, who though discharged under section 14 of the Foreigners' Act but not in respect of certain other minor offences, the notice for revision has been issued for November 7. Please direct that the revision applications be heard. If I may share this, in a large number of cases, by two judgments of August 21 and September 21 of the Bombay HC at Nagpur, revisions have been rejected. There are numerous discharge order, by ACMMs in Mewat, Delhi and other places...so it is a cumulative situation", prayed Senior Counsel C. U. Singh, also for the petitioners.Adjourning the matter to November 20, the bench observed, "We hope and trust that the revision applications will be disposed off expeditiously...now we will see on 20th".On October 15, The Supreme Court allowed foreign citizens, who are facing criminal proceedings in Delhi for participating in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz during March allegedly in violation of visa conditions, to submit representations before the nodal officer proposed by the Central Government seeking permission to go back to their country of origin.A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar ordered that such representations should be decided, preferably within a period of four days, but not later than a week from their receipt.Additional Solicitor General of India, K M Natraj, proposed the name of Joy Tirkey, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi as the nodal officer to process the representations of foreign nationals facing cases in Delhi.The ASG told the bench that 8 of such foreigners were discharged by the trial court, and revision petitions have been filed against the order of discharge.The Court said that the discharged persons are at liberty to file applications seeking a return to the country of origin subject to giving undertaking and security before the trial court.

[Tablighi Jamaat] We Can Only Express Hope That Revision Petitions Be Disposed Off Expeditiously, Says Supreme Court

Mehal Jain

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