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SC’s remarks come amid intensified scrutiny of illegal foreign nationals in India, particularly in Goa, Karnataka, and Delhi.
Supreme Court Of India (PTI)
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed sharp concern over the increasing number of foreigners overstaying illegally in India, remarking that the country seemed to have become a “haven for all kinds of people.”
The observation came during the hearing of a plea filed by an Israeli national, Dror Shlomo Goldstein, who has been living in Goa and sought to stop the deportation of his two minor daughters to Russia.
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What court said?
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi refused to entertain Goldstein’s petition, describing it as “publicity interest” and “frivolous.” The judges questioned how the Israeli national, who claimed to be the father of the two girls, was sustaining himself in India.
“This country has become a haven for all kinds of people. Anybody comes and stays here endlessly,” the bench remarked. “Why are you in India despite being Israeli? What is your source of livelihood?” the court asked.
Goldstein’s counsel, Deepak Prakash, sought time to verify whether the children had already been repatriated and to serve a copy of the petition to the Centre. The bench, however, declined to adjourn the matter, allowing the petitioner to withdraw his plea.
“We find this special leave petition totally frivolous. Apparently, the petitioner approached the high court and this court only for publicity,” the order stated.
Russian woman and her children found in cave
The case dates to July, when Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian woman, and her two daughters aged six and five were rescued from a cave in Karnataka’s forest region. The family had reportedly been living there for weeks without valid travel or residence documents.
Kutina and her daughters were later sent to a foreigners’ detention centre, and the Karnataka High Court directed the Union government to issue travel papers for their repatriation. They were flown back to Russia on 28 September, along with Kutina’s minor son, who was located in Goa.
Goldstein, who identified himself as a businessman residing in Goa, had petitioned the high court to stop the deportation and sought custody of the two girls, claiming to have provided for their welfare. The court dismissed his plea, noting that despite his assertions, the woman and her daughters were “inexplicably found living in an isolated cave,” and that he could not credibly explain the circumstances.
SC flags widespread overstaying of foreign nationals in India
In a separate case heard on the same day, the bench voiced similar disquiet while considering the plea of Yousif Haroun Yagoub Mohamed, a Sudanese national seeking protection from action for overstaying in India.
Senior advocate S. Muralidhar, representing Mohamed, said his client held a refugee card from the UNHCR and had applied for asylum in Australia. The court, however, noted that India does not recognise UNHCR refugee cards, as it is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol.
“You know the MHA does not acknowledge the refugee card… They have opened a showroom here and are issuing cards there,” the bench remarked, advising the petitioner to move to Australia instead.
The judges cautioned that courts must be “very careful” in dealing with such petitions. “Lakhs and lakhs are sitting here, overstaying,” they said, before disposing of the plea.
The court’s remarks come amid intensified scrutiny of illegal foreign nationals in India, particularly in Goa, Karnataka, and Delhi, where long-term overstayers and unauthorised residents have drawn official attention.
India lacks a domestic refugee law and deals with such cases under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950. In May, the Ministry of Home Affairs launched a nationwide drive to identify and deport illegal immigrants, a move currently under challenge before the Supreme Court itself.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Delhi, India, India
October 07, 2025, 08:07 IST
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