By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Australian govt suffered another blow when a Federal Court judge in Australia quashed a decision by the country’s government to cancel the work visa of Indian doctor Mohammad Haneef who was detained and released in connection with the failed UK terror plot.
While delivering the verdict, Justice Jeffrey Spender prefaced his finding by saying although there was a political aspect to the case, his job was to do his best according to the law.
Dr Haneef’s visa was cancelled just hours after he was granted bail on a charge of providing support to a terrorist organisation.Dr Haneef returned to India late last month after the charge was dropped and he was released from a Brisbane jail.
Haneef had filed a petition challenging the cancellation of his Australian work visa on August 8 after he was cleared of terror-related charges and allowed to return home on July 27.
Andrews had cancelled Haneef’s work visa on character grounds last month, saying he had a reasonable suspicion the doctor was associated with terrorists.
He referred specifically to Dr Haneef’s second cousins Kafeel and Sabeel Ahmed – both allegedly involved in failed UK bomb plot.
Haneef’s lawyer Barrister Darryl Rangiah argued in the court on August 8 that Haneef’s relationship with the two men could not be a sufficient basis to cancel his visa.
The former registrar at the Gold Coast Hospital has expressed a desire to return to Australia.
This will clear the path for Dr. Haneef to return and work in Australia. The court also gave 21 days’ time to the Australian Immigration Ministry to file a plea was reported in IBN.
His legal team also described the Australian government’s “character test” as too broad and allowing too much leeway for guilt by association.
Haneef is currently in India with his family, but has said he wants to return to Australia and resume his work.
Haneef was arrested in Brisbane on July 2 and charged with supporting the failed bomb attacks in June. Police later dropped the charge because of lack of evidence.