New Delhi, May 19 -- The Supreme Court on Monday, orally observed that India is not a 'dharamshala', and cannot "entertain foreign nationals from everywhere." The apex court's observations came while refusing to interfere with the detention of a Sri Lankan Tamil national.

"Is India to host refugees from all over the world? We're already struggling with a population of 140 crore. This is not a dharamshala that we can entertain foreign nationals from everywhere," Justice Dipankar Datta, who was heading the bench, reported legal news agency Live Law.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by a Sri Lankan Tamil national, challenging a Madras High Court order directing him to leave the country immediately after serving a seven-year s...