Madras High Court Holds Refugee Cannot be Removed from Service Only for being a Non-Citizen

The Madras High Court set aside the termination of a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee employed with the State Bank of India, holding that nationality alone cannot justify removal from service.

The petitioner was appointed in 2008 as an Officer–Marketing and Recovery under an SBI recruitment notification, but was removed in 2013 after the bank found she was not an Indian citizen.

The Court held that registered refugees are entitled to protection against arbitrary State action under Article 14 and can approach the High Court under Article 226.

It found her residence lawful under the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, and ruled that the termination violated the right to equality.

[Thirukalyanamalar v. State Bank of India]