Karnataka HC halts deportation of Russian woman's children rescued from Gokarna cave
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The Karnataka High Court has stepped in to pause the deportation of two young daughters of a Russian national, citing the need to uphold child welfare in line with international legal obligations.
Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian woman, and her daughters—Preya (6) and Ama (4) - were found living in the Ramatirtha cave near Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district.
The trio was rescued by police on July 11 after local authorities were alerted to their presence.
The High Court’s intervention came during the hearing of a writ petition that challenged an abrupt deportation order concerning the children.
The petitioner’s counsel, advocate Beena Pillai, argued that the decision overlooked the well-being of the minors and violated norms laid out by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav, presiding over the matter, emphasised the need to assess the children’s best interests before any action could be taken. The Assistant Solicitor General (ASG), representing the Union of India, informed the court that the children do not possess valid travel or identity documents.
Taking note of this, the court remarked that "immediate deportation was not reasonable at this stage." It has directed the government to file a written affidavit confirming the lack of valid documents and submit its objections within two weeks.
To prevent any sudden moves, the court clearly instructed that no deportation plan shall be carried out without prior notification to the bench. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 18.
Kutina had reportedly overstayed in India after her visa expired, leading to legal complications regarding her continued residence in the country with her daughters.