New Delhi, Oct 13 : Tara Singh, an Afghan national, had to wait eight years for the Delhi High Court to hear his appeal against a 35-day imprisonment for illegal entry into the country.

Justice Indermeet Kaur upheld the conviction of 35 days' jail for Singh and found him guilty under Section 14 of the Foreign Nationals Act. He had filed the appeal in 2001.

The case date backs to May 5, 1999, when Singh approached the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) here for an exit visa on the basis of his passport issued by the Pakistan authorities in April 6 that year, which was valid till Oct 5, 1999.

Singh had come to India on April 8, 1999.

The FRRO official found something fishy about his passport as a stamp of Peshawar was there before his exit from India.

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed and taking cognisance of it, the Metropolitan Magistrate sentenced him to one and a half years' jail and a fine of Rs. 3,000.

Singh challenged the order in the sessions court on March 5, 2001, which awarded him 35 days' imprisonment along with fine of Rs. 3,000. It also directed him to leave India within 10 days after the imprisonment period is over.

He appealed in 2001 in the high court against the sessions court order. The appeal came up for hearing at the high court eight years later. (IANS)