Cancellation of Tablighi visas on case-to-case basis: Centre to SC

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that cancellation of visas of 2,679 foreigners from 35 countries in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi was done on a “caseto-case basis”. The top court was hearing a petition challenging the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to blacklist foreign nationals, presently in India, for 10 years given their alleged participation in Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

In its affidavit, Centre stated that 2765 foreign participants had been blacklisted, visas of 2679 people have been cancelled even as many remain untraceable. Centre has issued 1,906 lookout circulars (LOCs) while 11 states have lodged 205 FIRs against participants for violating lockdown norms. The apex court has asked petitioners to reply to Centre’s affidavit and will hear the case on July 9.

Centre also intends to prosecute foreign Jamaat attendees under visa rules and Foreigners Act since they were on a tourist visa. Reportedly, 227 attendees had left India before the issuance of LOCs or blacklisting.

Earlier, the top court had asked the Centre to reply on the status of Tablighi Jamaat’s foreign members currently in India, questioning why many of them are still in India if their visas have been cancelled.