Anger over 78 deportation ruling
BBC NEWS
April 13, 2009
A tribunal ruling which has left an Indian man and his family facing deportation has been criticised by Stagecoach millionaire Ann Gloag.
Swarthick Salin has lived in Scotland for nine years and studied for a PhD at St Andrews University with backing from a charity set up by Ms Gloag.
The father-of-three had his application rejected after his savings fell 78 below the UK Border Agency's level.
Ms Gloag described the judgement as “perverse and ludicrous”.
“This judgement consigns a hard-working, law-abiding family who have known no other life to dreadful uncertainty,” she said.
“I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. And this is all over 80.”
Mr Salin, whose three children were born in the UK, had applied to stay in the country to enable him to apply for work with aid agencies.
However, his application was refused by a judge at a tribunal in Glasgow because his bank balance fell to 721.23 last September.
Decision appeal
Mr Salins, of Perth, told the Daily Record newspaper: “My wife is distraught and we are hoping against hope that all will be well in the end.
“We don't claim a penny from the state. At the end of the day, it was down to an oversight.”
A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “It is important that migrants are able to support themselves and their dependants when they are here.
“Allowing the entry of those unable to support themselves would have negative social consequences for the individual and for the UK.”
Mr Salins said he was planning to lodge an appeal against the decision with the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Perth and North Perthshire MP, Pete Wishart, said he would pursue the case with the Home Office.
The SNP MP said: “This case is bizarre and ridiculous and only serves the purpose of undermining confidence in our immigration system.”
