Refugees from Pak, Bangla can stay without docs: Govt

Refugees of minority communities from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have entered India on or before December 31 last year, can stay in the country on humanitarian grounds, even without valid travel documents, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government vide its notification dated September 7, 2015, has granted exemption to persons belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh and Pakistan namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who entered into India on or before December 31, 2014, from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the orders made there under in respect of their stay in India without valid documents including passport or other travel document; or with valid documents including passport or other travel document and the validity of any such documents has expired.