Actor Imran Khan Pal has secured substantial interim relief from the Bombay High Court concerning an official directive instructing him to leave the country. A bench took up his petition challenging the notice issued by regional authorities during Tuesday's proceedings. Representing the central government, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh assured the court that the operational deadline of the departure notice would be extended until the next scheduled hearing, bringing immediate comfort to the actor.
Background of the Notice and Protests
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office had initially issued a notice on October 14 directing him to exit India by October 28, a timeline that was subsequently adjusted to November 14. This regulatory action stemmed from an FIR registered following participation in an October 10 protest demonstration held in Mumbai. That gathering was organized in solidarity with a movement initiated by the Cockroach Janata Party in Delhi directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Arguments Over Jurisdiction in Court
When the petition came before Chief Justice Mahesh C. Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna, an intervening lawyer named Sunil Kumar raised objections regarding the legal nature of the proceedings. He argued that matters concerning a foreigners registration office typically fall under criminal law parameters while the current petition possessed civil attributes, suggesting the bench lacked proper jurisdiction. Conversely, senior counsel V.R. Dhond, representing the actor, challenged this intervention. He maintained that the Chief Justice functions as the master of the roster and holds complete authority to hear the matter. The bench noted it wanted to hear the central government's stance on this procedural objection.
Constitutional Rights Cited in the Petition
The 44-year-old actor approached the judiciary through his legal team comprising Zulfikar Memon and Parvez Memon to contest the October 14 notice. The petition explicitly characterizes the government's action as arbitrary and a direct infringement upon Article 14 guaranteeing equality before the law and Article 21 protecting life and personal liberty, rights extending to foreign nationals residing in the territory. The filing stresses that the notice was issued without providing any prior opportunity for a hearing, violating fundamental principles of natural justice.
Residency Background and OCI Status
The legal submission outlines that the actor has resided in India since he was merely two years old and maintains a completely unblemished record with no prior criminal history. Furthermore, he is married within the country and is a father. Working professionally as an actor, he holds an Overseas Citizen of India card. Such registration grants a lifelong, multiple-entry visa privilege where restrictions under Section 7B of the Citizenship Act are strictly limited to holding constitutional posts, voting rights, and government employment, none of which restrict a person's presence in a public space.
