JUDGMENT

SHARMA, J.:— By these three petitions under Art. 32 of the Constitution, the petitioners who are foreign nationals, have challenged the order dated 8-7-1987 whereby their prayer for further extension of the period of their stay in India was rejected they were asked to leave the country by the 31st July, 1987. Mr. Louis De Raedt, petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 1410 of 1987, came to India in 1937 on a Belgian passport with British visa and Mr. B. E. Getter, the petitioner in W. P. (Crl.) No. 528 of 1987 in 1948 on an American passport and both have been engaged in Christian missionary work. The petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 1372 of 1987, Mrs. S. J. Getter is Mr. B. E. Getters wife. Mr. Verghese, the learned Counsel, who appeared for the three petitioners, referred to the facts in W.P. (C) No. 1410 of 1987 and stated that the cases of the other two petitioners are similar and they are entitled to the same relief as Mr. Louis De Raedt.

2. According to his case, Mr. Louis De Raedt has been staying in India continuously since 1937 excepting on two occasions when he went to Belgium for short periods in 1966 and 1973. It has been contended that by virtue of the provisions of Art. 5(c) of