India ‘not dharmashala for the world’: Supreme Court denies relief to LTTE-linked Sri Lankan refugee
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday firmly stated that the nation cannot serve as a “dharmashala” (a free shelter or refuge) for people across the world while it is already struggling to provide for its own population of 140 crore. The remark came as the apex court dismissed a petition by a Sri Lankan national with past links to the banned LTTE organisation, who sought to stay his deportation.
A Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice K Vinod Chandran made the observation while hearing the case of a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who was earlier convicted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The individual was arrested in 2015 due to alleged ties with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)—a group recognised as a terrorist organisation by the Indian government.
The petitioner was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a trial court in 2018, but the Madras High Court later reduced the sentence to seven years. It also ordered him to leave the country upon completion of his term. Having spent the last three years in a refugee camp, he approached the Supreme Court, claiming that returning to Sri Lanka posed a threat to his life. He stated that he entered India legally and that his wife and children are now "settled" in the country.
Rejecting his plea, Justice Datta remarked: "Is India to host refugees from all over the world? We are already struggling with a population of 140 crore. This is not a dharmashala where we can entertain foreign nationals endlessly."
The court dismissed the petitioner’s argument invoking Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. It clarified that Article 19 rights (which include the right to free speech and movement) apply only to Indian citizens. Further, it ruled that the petitioner’s detention was lawful.
The bench also posed a blunt question to the petitioner: “What is your right to settle here? If your life is at risk in Sri Lanka, seek refuge in another country.”
- With inputs from agencies
