Rules for no-fly lists

Source: The post is based on an article “Rules for no-fly lists” published in the Business Standard on 6^th July 2022.

Syllabus: GS2 – Govt policies and interventions

Relevance: Fundamental Rights; No-Fly List

News: Recently, Amnesty International India Chairman, Kashmiri freelance photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner discovered at the airport that they were barred from leaving the country despite holding a valid visa.

What were the reasons?

(1) Amnesty head was barred because there was a lookout notice for alleged Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) violations, which was misinterpreted by the CBI. The order was already overturned by a Delhi court.

(2) Journalist was offloaded because she came from Kashmir. Her Pulitzer Prize was for covering the Covid-19 crisis in India.

Earlier Incidents of barring

In 2019, a Kashmiri journalist was barred after Article 370 was read down. He had published a book titled Kashmir: Rage and Reason.

In 2015, Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai was offloaded from a Delhi-London flight without giving a genuine reason.

What are the issues in such incidents?

In general, the civil society representatives, who speak truth against the power holder are put to no-fly list

There is a lack of transparency in putting the name of the person in no-fly lists and the implementation of policy.

The Constitution of India protects the right to free speech and movement,

Way Forward

The government should inform the citizens who are listed on an international no-fly list. Further, they should also be given a chance to appeal against it.

India can adopt the US model, wherein, the government is required to inform US citizens and permanent residents about their listing on the international no-fly list, and the reasons behind it. Further, it offers an appeal and redress system.