Karnataka High Court Seeks Centre's Response On Plea Questioning Deportation Of Russian Woman's Children Found Living Inside Cave

A single judge, Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav was informed that the children lack travel and identity  documents.

Centre submitted that the question of deportation would be considered only after any stand is taken regarding travel documents of the child.

Taking note of the same, the Court ordered, "respondents are granted time to take their stand in writing within a period of two weeks. Needless to state that, if there is any proposal for deportation before the next date of hearing, the respondents are at liberty to move the Court.”

The direction was given while hearing the petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein to restrain the government from proceeding with "sudden deportation" of his minor daughters, from India to any other country.

Further he has sought a direction to the respondents to release the children from their illegal custody/detention centre and hand over the minor children to the petitioner-father immediately. Advocate Beena P K for petitioner also relied on Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

She argued that from 2017 to 2024 the petitioner was maintaining the family and towards the end of 2024 they (mother and children) had escaped from Goa and were found living in a cave at Gokarna.

Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath, appearing for respondent Union of India firstly raised an issue of maintainability of the petition. It was said the petitioner cannot even raise the issue of right to life because none of government's actions affect his life.

He submitted that as of now the authorities have only issued a movement restriction order against the mother and the two children, because their visa has long back expired. The trio is kept in a detention center. "Earlier they were living in a forest and now they are staying under a roof," the ASG submitted.

The counsel for the petitioner also prayed that authorities permit him to meet the mother and children. The court initially suggested that he may pursue the remedy with the authorities. However, the ASG informed the court about a written request earlier received by the woman, stating she and her children do not know the petitioner and do not want to meet him.

The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on August 18.

Case Title: Dror Shlomo Goldstein AND Union of India & Others

Case No: WP 22042/2025

Appearance: Advocate Beena P K for Petitioner.

ASG Aravind Kamath for Respondent.