India-Pakistan Tensions: Karnataka HC Rejects Pak Minors' Plea For No Coercive Action, Says Visa Revocation Safeguards Citizens' Interest

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (May 8) dismissed a petition filed by three minor children who are Pakistani Nationals, seeking to restrain the authorities from taking any coercive action against them until May 15, the date by which they are expected to leave India.

A vacation bench of Justice M G Uma said “The Undersecretary to Government of India passed the order dated 25-04-2025 regarding revocation of visa of Pakistani National. Therefore the Union of India, through the Cabinet Committee on Security has taken a conscious decision to safeguard interest of citizens in India. In such circumstances, I do not find any reason to interfere with the same, to pass a favourable order in favour of the petitioners. Hence petition stands dismissed.”

Deputy Solicitor General H Shanti Bhushan, informed the court about the Union government's decision in revoking the visa of Pakistani Nationals after the Pahalgam terror attack and that they have been told to leave India by April 27.

Further he opposed the plea submitting that the petitioners cannot be granted any relief as they have not challenged the order of the FRRO, revoking the visa.

The minors were represented through their mother who is married to a Pakistani national. As per their plea they entered India through a valid visa in January and it is to expire in June.

In view of the untoward incident of killing of travellers at Pahalgam, the Central Government has revoked the VISA granted to all the Pakistani Nationals with immediate effect and ordered them to return to their country on or before 30-04-2025.

Following which the petitioner's went to Attari border on 28-04-2025 to go to their country. But as there was no one to receive them and further since Pakistan closed its border to its own citizens, the Immigration authorities sent them back to Mysore.

Thus they made a representation to the Commissioner of Police and Foreigners Registration Officer (Mysore), seeking a long term visa or extension of visa. But till this day the no decision has been made on their representation, the petitioners claim.

The plea stated that the petitioners, apprehending coercive action at the hands of the authorities and having no other alternative and efficacious remedy, have approached the high court seeking a mandamus to consider their representation and not to take coercive steps against them for 15 days as they are going back to Pakistan on or before 15-05-2025, after attending marriage which was scheduled on 12-05-2025.

Appearance: Advocates K G Ganesha, S Y Suma Dixit for Petitioners.

DSGI H Shanthi Bhushan for Respondents.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 168

Case No: WP 13182/2025