J&K high court directs Centre to bring back woman deported to Pakistan
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has instructed the Union home ministry to repatriate a 63-year-old woman, who was deported to Pakistan, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The woman, Rakshanda Rashid, had been residing in India for 38 years on a long-term visa (LTV). The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has instructed the Union home ministry to repatriate a 63-year-old woman, who was deported to Pakistan, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The court observed that the case was rare and merited immediate action. The order, dated June 6, directs the home ministry to allow her return within 10 days and file a compliance report on July 1.
The petition was moved by her daughter, Falak Zahoor. Her husband, Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed, informed the court that Rakshanda is ill and has no one in Pakistan to look after her. Justice Rahul Bharti, who gave the order, said that human rights have to be preserved at all costs. The court also challenged the legality of her deportation and granted her facilitation to return on humanitarian grounds.
In a two-page order, the court said that Ahmed had claimed that his wife is suffering from multiple ailments and her life is at risk as she has to fend for herself. 'Human rights are the most sacrosanct commitment to human life and, therefore, are occasions when a constitutional court is supposed to come up with SOS like indulgence notwithstanding the merits and demerits of a case which can be adjudicated only upon in due course of time and therefore, this court is coming up with a direction to the ministry of home affairs, Government of India to bring back the petitioner from her deportation,' read the order.
'Given the exceptional nature of facts and circumstances of the case, this court is constrained to direct the secretary, ministry of home affairs, to retrieve the petitioner and facilitate the reunion of the petitioner with her husband in Jammu,' it said.
The case has been listed for July 1.
After the killing of 26 people, most of them tourists, in Pahalgam on April 22, the government deported dozens of people staying in Jammu and Kashmir on long-term visa. However, many people have now approached the court to seek relief, particularly those who have been in J&K for decades.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
CZC meet to realise PM Modi's dream of country's all-round devpt: CMs on ‘X'
Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi described 'cooperative and competitive federalism' as a powerful medium for the country's all-round development. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 25th meeting of the CZC chaired by Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah was important in this context. " Pushkar Singh Dhami, after taking part in the CZC meet, posted, "During the meeting, I urged for greater cooperation through the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to strengthen road, communication and security arrangements in border areas. Additionally, I shared my views on the development of facilities in border villages under the Vibrant Village Scheme, the rapid expansion of Bharat Net and satellite communication services. " Dhami further mentioned, "Suggestions were given on the need to simplify the subsidy process under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, repeal the 1989 Remote Valley Notification and provide additional support to the state for the smooth operation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, considering the damage to roads caused by disasters such as landslides, heavy rainfall and cloudbursts in Uttarakhand's hilly areas during the monsoon. " Dhami added, "Proposals were made for the establishment of a Glacier Study Centre, a Biodiversity Conservation Institute and an International Adventure Sports Training Centre in the state. Additionally, I requested support from the Central govt for the successful organisation of the Nanda Rajjat Yatra (2026) and the Kumbh Mela in 2027." Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, in his post, termed the CZC meet as a significant step towards realising the mantra of "cooperative and competitive federalism" of the PM. The meeting involved in-depth and meaningful discussions on various topics such as coordination between states, security, health, tourism, transport, disaster management and infrastructure development. MP CM Mohan Singh Yadav posted, "Security leads to good governance and cooperation leads to prosperity. .."
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Hearing Kashmir's call for progress
In the prevailing wilderness of global and national events, public attention has partly shifted away from the Pahalgam terror strike that was followed by the response of Operation Sindoor only a few weeks ago. What may have gone unnoticed are a few signs of a move back to normalcy shown in Jammu and Kashmir. For one, the opening of the world's tallest rail bridge over the Chenab was an affirmation that Kashmir would move forward undeterred. Tourism is again picking up. Yet, irrespective of this, anxieties and emotions triggered by the terror attack will take time to settle—both among the local population and visitors. More than any guarantee from outside, what provides assurance is the newfound belief and determination of the Kashmiri people. Candlelight vigils, shutdowns and community leaders leading the castigation of terrorism were signs of a sure shift from past trends. There were processions of condemnation in every corner of the valley in the aftermath of the attack. The strong, united response against terrorism appeared to be an extension of the spirit of electoral participation seen last year. The tenacity of this new Kashmir was significantly drawn from the two spotless elections in 2024, first for Lok Sabha and later for the assembly. There were no complaints of fatigue among the people even though the two elections were held in short succession. Campaigning by the parties and candidates was as combative as it could be, with a significantly larger number of candidates, especially women, hitting the ground than in the past.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
India to roll out incentive scheme for rare earth production 15-20 days
With the rare earth material supply crisis looming large, the government is set to launch an incentive programme to encourage domestic production of these minerals. The government will roll out a scheme to subsidise domestic production of rare earth magnets in 15-20 days, Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday. The minister said that consultation with stakeholders is underway to decide the amount of the incentive programme. According to ministry officials, if the total incentive crosses Rs 1,000 crore, the scheme will be sent to the Union cabinet for approval. The latest crisis emanates from stricter controls imposed by China on the export of seven rare earth elements and finished magnets. This revised framework demands detailed end-use disclosures and client declarations, including confirmation that products will not be used in defense or re-exported to the US. This added scrutiny has prolonged the clearance process to at least 45 days, leading to significant delays and a growing backlog that is tightening global supply chains. China is the world's dominant exporter of rare earth magnets, controlling over 70% of global Rare Earth Element (REE) production and over 90% of refining capacity. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said India is looking at alternative sources for procurement of rare earth minerals in the interim period, including Japan and Vietnam. He informed that one Hyderabad-based company has promised to deliver 500 tonnes by this year-end. The secretary said the actual production of rare earth magnets will take about two years, and the government, along with the industry, is looking at alternative sources of procurement in the interim period, including Japan and Vietnam. Rare earth magent, an alloy rare earth metal, are integral to Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs), which are widely used in electric vehicles (EVs) for their high torque, energy efficiency, and compact size. Hybrid vehicles also rely on them for efficient propulsion. In Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, their use is primarily limited to electric power steering and other motorized systems. Elements like Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb), Neodymium (Nd), and Praseodymium (Pr) are crucial for these magnets, especially in high-performance applications. Meanwhile, ministry officials said that said 30 automotive firms have sought authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to import rare earth magnets from China a fortnight ago, so that production is not impacted negatively due to the shortage.
