Thiruvananthapuram: The Delhi High Court on Sunday sought explanation from the union government for sending anthropologist Filippo Osella back to his country upon his arrival at international airport here without giving explanation.

Osella, an academician from the UK, is involved in research on traditional fishing in Kerala. He was deported to his country on March 24, 2022.
The action of the HC bench comprising chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma and justice  Subramonium Prasad came on the plea of Osella against deportation.

The academician argued that such actions are taken against people having red corner notice of Interpol against them, and terrorists who pose a threat to the coutry. Though I sought clarification from the union government, I did not get any response, he said.

A professor of anthropology and South Asian studies at the University of Sussex, Osella conducted research on rural Kerala and published two joint monographs, one on stratification, identity, and social mobility among a community that was formerly untouchables (Social Mobility in Kerala, 2000), and the other on masculinities (Men and Masculinity in South India, 2007).

His recent research examines contemporary transformation of South Indian Muslims with field-work in Kozhikode and in a number of Gulf countries.

Osella reportedly arrived here to attend a conference on coastal communities in Kerala.

His new research, funded by the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme, explores new ways to make traditional fishing in Kerala safer and sustainable by co-producing knowledge on marine weather and fish resources with traditional fishermen and weather forecasters.

Advocates Shyam Mohan and Kuriakose Varghese appeared for Osella. The union government has given a month time to reply to the notice.

(With PTI inputs)