Latest news with #PravasiLegalCell
Gulf Insider
07-08-2025
- General
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: Parents Forced To Seek Court Orders For Basic Birth Certificates
Expatriate parents in Bahrain who delay registering their child's birth beyond the legally allowed 15 days are being forced to approach the courts for a certificate, according to Pravasi Legal Cell – Bahrain Chapter. The organisation has raised an alert urging all expatriates to act on time, saying that several families it assisted had to bear unnecessary legal and financial burdens due to delays. Court-only option after deadline 'Many parents miss the deadline thinking it can be handled later or through the embassy, but that is not the case,' said Sudheer Thirunilath, Global PRO and President of Pravasi Legal Cell Bahrain Chapter. He said that after the 15-day legal period ends, parents must approach a special delay committee under the Information and eGovernment Authority. Once this period lapses, the only option is through the courts. 'Court procedures involve lawyer fees, civil rulings, execution letters, and other steps. At Salmaniya Medical Complex, a normal delivery is charged at BD 125 and a caesarean costs BD 150, while the birth certificate fee is BD 0.500 for newborns aged one to seven days and BD 0.900 for those older than a week. Additional copies cost BD 1 each, What would have cost around BHD 125 or 150 ends up becoming far more expensive,' he added. 'This situation could be due to financial hardship undergone by the couple during the time of delivery,' Thirunilath explained. 'Such situations are mostly faced by people belonging to the low-income category or couples who have lost their jobs during the time of delivery. They end up delaying applying for birth certificates. There are some who postpone for applying later also.' He said recent cases handled by Pravasi Legal Cell were all related to couples in financial distress. 'There were some cases in which labour charges were paid by the couple but they were not issued birth certificates. If a birth certificate is not issued from there within two weeks, the matter has to go before a court. When the couple is informed that they have to approach a court, they tend to delay it,' he said. High cost and long wait 'When the matter is handled through court, it results in expenditure of around 400 BD and it is time consuming also,' Thirunilath added. 'That is why we're calling for awareness on this. There are people who don't take care of this in a timely fashion and there are people who think that everything is done with the delivery. They face trouble when they attempt to go back to their homelands or face visa renewals.' Pravasi Legal Cell warned that there are many cases of undocumented persons due to such delays, and stressed that awareness is crucial. It noted that a delayed birth certificate could prevent children from accessing passports, education, healthcare, and may even restrict future travel.
Daily Tribune
07-08-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Parents forced to seek court orders for basic birth certificates
TDT | Manama Expatriate parents in Bahrain who delay registering their child's birth beyond the legally allowed 15 days are being forced to approach the courts for a certificate, according to Pravasi Legal Cell – Bahrain Chapter. The organisation has raised an alert urging all expatriates to act on time, saying that several families it assisted had to bear unnecessary legal and financial burdens due to delays. Court-only option after deadline 'Many parents miss the deadline thinking it can be handled later or through the embassy, but that is not the case,' said Sudheer Thirunilath, Global PRO and President of Pravasi Legal Cell Bahrain Chapter. He said that after the 15-day legal period ends, parents must approach a special delay committee under the Information and eGovernment Authority. Once this period lapses, the only option is through the courts. 'Court procedures involve lawyer fees, civil rulings, execution letters, and other steps. At Salmaniya Medical Complex, a normal delivery is charged at BD 125 and a caesarean costs BD 150, while the birth certificate fee is BD 0.500 for newborns aged one to seven days and BD 0.900 for those older than a week. Additional copies cost BD 1 each, What would have cost around BHD 125 or 150 ends up becoming far more expensive,' he added. 'This situation could be due to financial hardship undergone by the couple during the time of delivery,' Thirunilath explained. 'Such situations are mostly faced by people belonging to the low-income category or couples who have lost their jobs during the time of delivery. They end up delaying applying for birth certificates. There are some who postpone for applying later also.' He said recent cases handled by Pravasi Legal Cell were all related to couples in financial distress. 'There were some cases in which labour charges were paid by the couple but they were not issued birth certificates. If a birth certificate is not issued from there within two weeks, the matter has to go before a court. When the couple is informed that they have to approach a court, they tend to delay it,' he said. High cost and long wait 'When the matter is handled through court, it results in expenditure of around 400 BD and it is time consuming also,' Thirunilath added. 'That is why we're calling for awareness on this. There are people who don't take care of this in a timely fashion and there are people who think that everything is done with the delivery. They face trouble when they attempt to go back to their homelands or face visa renewals.' Pravasi Legal Cell warned that there are many cases of undocumented persons due to such delays, and stressed that awareness is crucial. It noted that a delayed birth certificate could prevent children from accessing passports, education, healthcare, and may even restrict future travel.
Daily Tribune
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Ashraf family returns home after 18 years of undocumented life in Bahrain
After more than 18 agonizing years of living undocumented in Bahrain, Mr. Ashraf, his wife Ramsheedha, and their two daughters have finally returned home to Kerala, their dignity and identity restored. For over a decade, the Ashraf family's existence was confined to a tiny rented room in Riffa, a life marked by invisibility, lack of documentation, and constant fear. Mr. Ashraf's dream of a better life in Bahrain turned into a legal nightmare as visas expired, leaving his wife undocumented since 2013 and his elder daughter since 2012. The youngest, Arafa Fatima, born in Bahrain, had no legal existence – no passport, no CPR, no birth registration. Medical care This dire situation meant the children could not attend school, the family could not work legally, and even seeking basic medical care was fraught with anxiety. The family's silent struggle intensified when Mr. Ashraf was diagnosed with endstage kidney failure, requiring life-saving dialysis. Without income or legal identity, obtaining such critical treatment seemed impossible. Hope arrived when Mr. Sudheer Thirunilath, Global PRO and President of Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC), Bahrain Chapter, learned of their plight. With the support of PLC governing council members, the journey to recovery began. Mr. Ashraf was admitted to Salmaniya Hospital for catheter surgery and later dialysis sessions were arranged at a nominal cost in the KIMSHEALTH (GCC), with the support of Mr. Jacob Thomas, Group Executive Director. PLC took charge of all logistical and emotional support, including hospital coordination, medication, food, rent, and even obtaining their marriage certificate and attestation. Hurdle The biggest hurdle was Arafa Fatima, the daughter born in Bahrain who legally 'did not exist.' PLC arranged for a power of attorney for Adv. Tariq Alown, who filed a case to secure her birth certificate. Outstanding hospital charges at Jidhafs were settled, and with support from MP Hassan Eid Bukhammas, the process at the Central Informatics Organization (CIO) was fast-tracked. The breakthrough arrived when the court ordered Arafa's birth to be officially registered. For the first time in her 13 years, she had a legal identity. The PLC team continued their relentless efforts: lost passport reports were filed, outpasses (emergency certificates) were issued for all four family members, and finally, passports were initiated, fully restoring their identities. Fines The last major obstacle was the accumulated immigration fines over 13 years, an insurmountable sum for the family. The PLC team approached Bahrain's Immigration Authorities, who responded with remarkable empathy, helping to legalize the family's stay and allowing them to depart without fear. The Embassy of India in Bahrain, under the leadership of H.E. Shri Vinod K. Jacob, First Secretary Mr. Ravi Jain, and Second Secretary Mr. Ravi Singh, arranged tickets through Air India to Kannur International Airport. Yesterday, the Ashraf family finally boarded the plane, returning to their homeland with documents, identity, and dignity.
Daily Tribune
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Repatriated Indian Passes Away
TDT | Manama Maniprasad Adkadkam, the former Bahrain resident whose repatriation last year drew island-wide community support, passed away yesterday in Kerala, India. Hailing from Kasargod, he had been suffering from multiple severe health conditions, including cardiac failure, renal dysfunction, and acute gout, when he was rescued from a legal and medical deadlock in Bahrain. His return to India in November last year had been hailed as a humanitarian success, made possible through a coordinated campaign of legal aid, diplomatic intervention, and grassroots mobilisation. Bahrain United Maniprasad's case was championed by the Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC) Bahrain Chapter with the legal guidance of Advocate Tariq Alown. T, which resulted in the lifting of three travel bans, including one imposed by a Kerala court, after intense legal proceedings in Bahrain. His Excellency Vinod K. Jacob, Ambassador of India to Bahrain, and officials at the Indian Embassy had also lent their support, working in tandem with civil society organisations to bring the case to a compassionate resolution.
Daily Tribune
10-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain's Distracted Driving Crisis: Court Links Phone Use to Fatal Accident, Orders Compensation
• Victim was crossing road • Driver distracted by phone • Court orders compensation for family You Know What: In Bahrain, using a mobile phone while driving is punishable by fines or suspension under Article 39 of the Traffic Law, but enforcement is limited and violations remain common, especially in residential zones. Mahir Haneef TDT | Manama An Indian expatriate who was struck and killed while crossing a street in Nuwaidrat has become a painful reminder of Bahrain's ongoing struggle with distracted driving. A court in Bahrain has confirmed that the driver who caused the fatal accident was using his mobile phone at the time of the collision. The incident took place on October 2, 2023. Mani V.V., 50, was crossing Road 4303 near an intersection when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a Bahraini national. He died three days later, on October 5 th, from head injuries. His family, including mother Santha V.V. and siblings Sasi, Ramesan, and Mini, filed a civil case seeking compensation. Driver distracted According to the cour'ts ruling, the driver had been using his phone while approaching the intersection and failed to notice the pedestrian in time. The court found him guilty of negligence and confirmed that his actions had directly caused Mani's death. The court cited the criminal case in relation to the incident, in which the driver was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison with licence suspension. He was later granted a pardon but the civil case proceeded independently. Despite the driver's release, the court held both him and his insurance company jointly liable for damages. Public concern Mani's death and the court's findings have stirred renewed concern about the widespread use of mobile phones by drivers in Bahrain. Although Article 39 of the Traffic Law bans hand-held phone use while driving, violations are common. On most days, drivers can be seen texting or taking calls even near schools, roundabouts, and residential zones, with little to no visible deterrent. The pattern of distracted driving has become a routine part of road behaviour, often overlooked unless it leads to a tragedy. This case stands out as one of the few where the courts have clearly linked such behaviour to a fatal outcome. Compensation ordered The court awarded BD 4,000 to Mani's mother and BD 500 each to his three siblings, acknowledging the emotional and moral damage caused by the loss. Although the family could not prove continuous financial support, the ruling recognised their grief and the lost hope of future care. In a letter shared with Indian authorities, the family expressed gratitude to lawyer Bushra Mayoof and the Pravasi Legal Cell for reviving a case that was initially dismissed. They also thanked the Indian Embassy and Kerala's Chief Minister for diplomatic and moral support during the ordeal. Systemic issue The case is significant not only for its compensation ruling but also for its documentation of distracted driving as the confirmed cause of death, which is rare in Bahrain's courts. Legal observers say this highlights how casual recklessness on the roads, especially involving mobile phone use, continues to pose risks to pedestrian safety and public life. It also signals a slow but steady move towards greater legal accountability.
