Indian given special visa by Australia for father’s funeral

In a humanitarian gesture, the Australian government Friday granted a special visa to a 26-year-old Indian man who risked being blocked from coming back to the country if he escorts his dead father’s body back to India.

Jaspal Singh was waiting for his father and mother at the Melbourne airport when his father collapsed on arrival on Monday due to a suspected heart attack. He died at the scene despite efforts of paramedics.

The family was making arrangements for the funeral in India and Mr Singh was planning to escort the body back home.

However, Mr Singh’s visa was said to be complicated one and he was at risk of being blocked to return back to Australia.

According to his lawyers the visa was only to be approved by immigration minister Peter Dutton.

Mr Singh’s visa had expired for three weeks in 2013 after his separation with his former partner and he had applied for a new visa with his new wife.

His lawyers, according to ABC report, said that he was granted a new visa after an appeal from his family.

The visa will allow him to return to Australia after he escorts his father’s body home to India.