For the first time in 13 years, Rajasthan High Court held a hearing on Saturday, 5th August, on a petition filed by 73 year old woman Dhai Bheel and her relatives. Dhai Bheel and her relatives are Pakistani Hindus who had come to India on short term visa

The special bench of single judge Justice Vijay Bishnoi issued notice to Union Home and External Affairs Ministries as well as various state government authorities. The court also directed Additional Advocate General K.L. Thakur to immediately communicate this order to concerned authorities. However, before the order could be executed, the Thar Express, the train by which Dhai and others were deported, had entered the Pakistani territory.

Dhai Bheel and her relatives are Pakistani Hindus and did not wish to go back to Pakistan. Hence, they had applied for visa extension. CID officers gave them an ultimatum to go back to Pakistan. On Saturday, Rajashtan High Court gave clear orders that the Pakistani Hindus should not be deported.

The Pakistani Hindus had reached Munabao Railway Station, which is a railway transit point on the India-Pakistan border, when the hearing was on. By the time the order reached the concerned officers, the train was on its way to Khokhrapar station in Pakistan.

Pakistani citizens Dhai and her husband Chandu Bheel, 80 along with their sons Bhagwan, 34, daughter-in-law Radha, 35, grandchild Dharmi, 9 and other relatives Dheero, 34, his wife Mumal, 32, their son Jayram, 4 and daughter Kawita, 2 had come to India on May 20. Their visa expired in the month of June, but they didn’t go back.