New Delhi: Although the State has "unfettered discretion" while granting visas to foreign nationals, certain humane considerations must influence its decisions, the Delhi High Court has said.
The high court's observation came while directing the Centre to issue a visa to a woman from Uzbekistan who was being denied entry into India even though one of her minor children was granted a medical visa for treatment here.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru said that issuing a medical visa to the child while blacklisting the parent was "futile and serves no purpose". "The courts, in several decisions, have emphasised upon the importance of having a humanitarian approach.
"Although the state has an unfettered discretion in the matter of granting visas to foreign citizens, certain humane considerations must influence its decisions," the court said in its order.
The relief has been granted to the woman subject to her giving an undertaking that she would leave the country on expiry of her visa along with her children.
She was blacklisted for staying back in India after expiry of her tourist visa as she had married someone here.