Priya Gour
Published on: 23August, 2022 at 18:27 IST
Professor Filippo Osella, a UK-based anthropologist has moved to the Delhi High Court to challenge his deportation from Thiruvananthapuram airport.
The case: Filippo Osella Vs. Union of India and Ors.
The University of Sussex professor had landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport in March 2022 but was deported an hour later, without being given any reason for the action. The professor had previously worked in Kerala for several years.
Osella has moved to the court to get a direction issued to the government for the presentation of records which led to him being sent back to the UK.
The petitioner informed the bench that he has been working on a project based on research of the artisanal fishing community of Kerala. He had already been granted a valid research visa from the Indian High Commission for a period of twelve months.
However, when he reached the airport early in the morning, he was denied entry by the airport authorities. He submitted in court that he was forcibly deported.
“By 4:30 AM, the Professor was literally marched back and bundled into the same aircraft in which he had arrived and was unjustly deported-much like a hardened criminal. The Petitioner’s request for his blood pressure medications from his luggage was also not allowed, creating extreme anxiety, hypertension, and panic.”
After hearing the submissions, the single-judge bench of Justice Yashwant Varma has directed the Central government to submit its response in the matter. He listed the case for further hearing on October 12.
Also, concerned with the deportation, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his interference in the matter and issuing appropriate directions.
The bench has listed the matter to be heard on September 12, 2022.