Indian Govt Is Robust Enough To Take Care Of It: Supreme Court Tells US Citizen Who Claimed That Hindus Are Facing Persecution In USA
|The Supreme Court, today, remarked that the Government of India is strong enough to take care of its citizens all around the world, after an American citizen seeking asylum in India said that all Hindus in the United States of America were imperilled from the same kind of prosecution as he was facing.
The Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India filed by an American citizen seeking asylum, an extension of his tourist visa and interim relief from the expiration of his visa.
Petitioner Claude David Convisser, an attorney from New Mexico, appeared in person and said, "I think this is of national importance...it denies my right to stay in your wonderful country after the expiration of my visa...All Hindus in the United States are imperilled from the same kind of prosecution as I am facing."
To which Justice Aravind Kumar replied, "Don't worry the Government is robust enough to take care of its citizens elsewhere in the world."
The Court asked the Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee to get instructions from the Union Government in the matter.
The Petitioner's case was that he has discovered an alternative to petroleum and cannot go back to the United States as he will be persecuted there for the same by US companies. His visa is expiring on May 13, 2024 midnight. The Petitioner also claimed to be a follower of spiritual guru Sri Maata Anandmayee.
Further, Petitioner submitted, "Well I am a practitioner of the faith of India...if I am forced to leave the country...All I have asked for is interim relief to remain in the country...If the Court is directing me to file in another Court then I would ask for your directions to the Ministry to give me some time."
The Bench replied, "That we cannot do, in their absence, we will not do it. This will open Pandora's box."
The Petitioner also submitted that he has already filed the requisite applications before the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs but he has not received any response. He told the Court that he had been staying in Thiruvananthapuram.
Justice Sandeep Kumar, "You arrived 180 days ago, right from the beginning you had the intention to stay."
Petitioner said, "That is not true...if you read towards the beginning of my facts, it explains that there is a particular incident which realised that those who were persecuting me which is the American Petroleum Industry...with the tacit support of the United States government, do not want me to remain in India under the protection of my Guru Sri Maata Anandmayee."
Accordingly, the matter was adjourned to June 10, 2024. The Court clarified that it is not issuing notice but wants to use the good office of the ASG to ascertain facts. The Court also said that it is of a prima facie view that the matter should go to the High Court since it is an individual grievance.
Cause Title: Claude David Convisser vs. Union Of India (Diary No. 23521 of 2024)