The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea by a Sri Lankan national seeking to halt his deportation, declaring that India is "not a dharmashala" for refugees. The petitioner, linked to the banned LTTE group and convicted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), had served a seven year sentence. Despite claiming threats to his life in Sri Lanka and stating that his wife and children now reside in India, the court refused to grant relief.

The bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and K Vinod Chandran, clarified that fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 do not extend to foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds. The court emphasized that India cannot indefinitely host refugees and asked the petitioner to seek asylum elsewhere if needed. The ruling underscores India’s evolving stance on national security and immigration control amidst growing refugee challenges.