Srinagar, Aug. 1 -- In a significant legal and diplomatic development, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has cleared the return of Pakistani national Rakshanda Rashid to India on a visitor visa, months after she was deported in April following a sudden revocation of Pakistani visas by the Union government.

The clearance came after Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing virtually, informed the division bench that the competent authority had taken an "in principle" decision to allow her re-entry. "Once an in-principle decision is taken by the competent authority, there is hardly any room for any doubt," Mehta told the bench, adding that the procedural formalities would now be expedited.

The matter was heard by Chief...