Mumbai: Bombay high court on Monday adjourned the hearing on actor Imran Khan Pal’s petition challenging a ‘leave India’ notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Mumbai, to Tuesday at 3 pm.
Khan, represented by senior counsel V R Dhond, submitted before a bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna that the matter may be taken up on Tuesday, Oct 27, and the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta said he had no objection to the matter being heard on Tuesday.
Solicitor General Mehta, who appeared through video conferencing from Delhi, said it could be taken up at 3 pm when the CJ said an adjournment has been sought.
Khan (around 44) approached the high court through lawyers Zulfiquar Memon and Parvez Memon to challenge an Oct 14 notice directing him to leave India by Oct 28. The notice was issued after an FIR was lodged against him for allegedly participating in a protest held in Mumbai on Oct 10 in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.
On Monday advocate Kunal Vajani also appeared for him on VC from Delhi.
In his petition, Khan challenged the Centre’s action as “arbitrary,” and in violation of his constitutional rights to equality, life and liberty under articles 14 and 21 which are available to foreigners too. He argued that it was issued without giving him a hearing and violated the principles of natural justice.
Khan said he had been living in India since he was two years old and has no criminal antecedents.
He e-filed his petition on Saturday. On the same day, the FRRO issued a fresh show-cause notice asking why action should not be taken against him under laws governing foreigners and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders.
The high court is scheduled to hear the matter at 3 pm on Tuesday.
