Source:- hindustantimes.com<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court has declined a plea by a Pakistani national seeking extension of visa to stay in India, saying it is a call to be taken by the Executive.<\/p>\n
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said it cannot allow the request of Syed Waseem Ur Rehman, a Sufi cleric, who had approached the apex court against a Bombay High Court order asking him and his wife to leave India.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat (extension of visa) will be a call to be taken by the Executive. We cannot extend visa if the government is not doing it,\u201d the bench, also comprising Justices R Banumathi and Mohan M Shantanagoudar, said.<\/p>\n
Rehman\u2019s lawyer had pleaded to the bench that the government be asked to take a \u201ccompassionate view\u201d in the matter as there was no adverse report against him or his wife.<\/p>\n
The counsel had also argued that since Rehman is practising Sufism, there is a threat to him in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
The apex court did not accept the contentions and said it was for the government to take such a decision.<\/p>\n
His counsel had also contended that Rehman should be granted time to make a representation before the government in the matter but the bench said, \u201cWe cannot allow it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, representing the Centre, opposed the plea and told the bench that the couple had given an undertaking before the high court that they would leave India.<\/p>\n
The couple have been staying in India since October 2010.<\/p>\n
The high court had dismissed their plea against last year\u2019s order of Mumbai\u2019s foreigner regional registration officer who had refused to extend their visa.<\/p>\n