SYED ALI AHMED
NEW DELHI, JUNE 28
The Supreme Court will hear the cases of 34 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists from 33 countries on Monday (June 29). Among them includes a seven-month pregnant women from Thailand.
The cases are based on four petitions filed by advocate-on-record Fuzail Ayyubi, submitting that being one-sided government’s order to blacklist foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists should be withdrawn forthwith, the government should restore visas of the Jamaat activists that had been suspended and adequate steps be taken for their safe return to their respective countries.
Among the 34 foreign activists is also a woman from Thailand who is seven months pregnant. She has made a special appeal for her safe return to her country. Other countries to which the Jamaat activists belong to include Indonesia, Britain, Egypt, Thailand, South Africa etc. The petition also mentioned that 2500 Tablighi Jamaat activists of foreign countries were blacklisted before issuing them prior notice. Out of them, 960 activists are in Delhi itself. They were not given chance to put their point of view before being blacklisted. They were blacklisted on June 5 for 10 years.
In June 27 hearing of the case, a special double bench of the apex court ordered the petitioner to forward the copies of the petition to the union government, and the state government concerned through email so that they could also go through it. The petition was filed on June 12 and the case was heard by a two-judge bench of Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari.
The petitioner said that one-sided action was taken by the Union Government against Tablighi Jamaat activists on April 2 and Director-Generals of Police in all the states were asked to take action against foreign Tablighis in case of violation of visa rules.
Invoking the provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioner has pointed out that no action can be taken against freedom of any person (Indian national or a foreigner) before hearing his argument against the allegations levelled by the state or anybody else. The Constitution has given equal right for freedom to every citizen.
Ayyubi said that from his side, eminent senior advocates Chander Udai Singh, Salman Khursheed and Dr Mainka Gaurav Swami argued the case in the apex court. The case is listed for hearing on Monday (June 29).
(Syed Ali Ahmed is the Chief Editor of indiatomorrow.net)
