Haynes case: Centre pulled up

Mayura Janwalkar

Mumbai: The Bombay high court questioned the central government over the investigations made in Jennifer Haynes's case and asked the government counsel why they should not be responsible to provide shelter for Haynes.

A year after she was deported to Mumbai from USA owing to incomplete adoption formalities 20 years back, Haynes, 28, told the court that having lived away from her two young children, her marriage too is in troubled waters.

Speaking to justice Ranjana Desai and justice Mridula Bhatkar on Wednesday, Haynes broke down at the mention of her children, Kadafi, 5, and Kanassa, 4.

Haynes's lawyer Pradeep Havnur told the court that Haynes was convicted in a case of illegal possession of drugs in July 2004 and was under probation in prison. When her case reached the Board of Immigration, it was found that her citizenship formalities were incomplete at the time of her adoption in 1989. The board then decided to deport her.

Taking a serious note of the matter, justice Desai said, "The charges she is facing are in America," adding that things like these happen due to poverty and unemployment. "You cannot separate a mother from her children in this manner," she said.

Haynes has been living at a shelter home in Chembur since July last year. When the court enquired about her accommodation, Haynes said that the home that she lives in is temporary. The court called for additional solicitor general DJ Khambata to clarify the government's position in the case and adjourned the case till November 30.