Visas of 2679 foreign Tablighis cancelled; Centre files affidavit in Supreme Court

Shortly after  Supreme Court sought more information from Centre regarding  blacklisting and cancellation of visas of foreign Tablighi Jamaat members, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday filed an affidavit expanding on details of action taken by Centre. 

In affidavit filed by MHA, which has been accessed by Republic TV, Centre has stated that foreign Tablighi Jamaat members have "breached visa conditions and committed criminal offences." It has said that obtaining visa is t a "fundamental right or even an enforceable right," rar being granted a visa is "a privilege." In line with this, visa manual required  Tablighi members to take prior permission from relevant authorities before indulging in “Tablighi activities”, which y failed to do, as per MHA.  

MHA revealed that Immigration Bureau as of April 2020 h cancelled 985 visas and issued 1507 lookout circulars to Tablighis on e-visa. As of June, a total of 2679 visas h been cancelled. MHA ded that member h been deported so far as criminal proceedings against m were ongoing.

Re: Charge Sheet Against 12 Tablighi Members From Nepal For Violating Lockdown rms In Muzaffarnagar

Re: UP: 17 Tablighi Jamaat Members Released On Bail

Pleas in SC

Back in April,  Ministry of Home Affairs h blacklisted 960 foreigners who were involved in Tablighi Jamaat activities despite being on a tourist visa. Moreover, ir Indian visa has been cancelled. In ar subsequent decision on June 4 over 2,500 foreign nationals were blacklisted for 10 years from travelling to India for ir alleged involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities.

Filed by foreign Tablighis from 35 countries, petitions in SC have demanded directions to MHA to remove ir names from blacklist, reinstate ir visas and facilitate ir return to ir respective countries. y termed "unilateral blacklisting" of foreigners as a violation of Article 21 of Constitution. 

Supreme Court h asked Union government to clarify blacklisting of foreign nationals asking m wher it was a blanket directive or care was taken to hear and decide merits of each case individually. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta h sought more time during June 29 hearing. 

Tablighi Jamaat garing at Nizamuddin Markaz in New Delhi h come at a time in March when preventive measures against Covid were alrey in place, and yet, t only did event go on but statements were also me inside that were unscientific and prescribed dangerous statements on Covid outbreak and its potency. Those who attended n travelled to various parts, and many tested positive for Coronavirus, leing to a search and contact tracing effort that has seen event being referred to in some quarters as a 'super spreer'.

Re: Tablighi Jamaat Chief Maulana Sa Resurfaces, Visits Mosque In Delhi; Picture Accessed

Re: SC Seeks Facts On Blacklisting Of Foreign Tablighis From Centre; Next Hearing On July 2