HC refuses 'maintenance' to foreigner couple stuck in India

HC refuses 'maintenance' to foreigner couple stuck in India

The Bombay High Court has said foreigners stranded in India due to pending criminal cases cannot seek maintenance to sustain themselves.

Singapore national Zainab Yousuf (57) and her Japanese husband Teytsyo Hiryama (62) had sought maintenance from the state government.

Yousuf and Hiryama found themselves in an unusual predicamment: acquitted and set free by High Court, although not having permission to leave country because the appeal is pending.

Advocate Ayaz Khan, their advocate, argued that they had no source of livelihood here. Relying on article 21 of Constitution (right to life), Khan moved High Court for maintenance.

The two of them were arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here for possession of Hashish and were convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in 2006.

But in January 2009, they were acquitted by the High Court. However, customs appealed it in the Supreme Court, and authorities didn't issue them 'exit visa'.

Yesterday, rejecting their plea, division bench of justice PB Majmudar and justice RG Ketkar said that "even for citizens of this country (India) who cannot maintain themselves, there is no policy to offer shelter and maintenance. At the most the petitioners may apply for a work permit."