The Supreme Court today indicated that it may allow 82-year-old Pakistani microbiologist Mohammed Khalil Chishti to visit his country temporarily.

He has been awarded life term in a 20-year-old murder case and is presently out on bail, but has been asked to confine himself to Ajmer only.

A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar gave the directions amid the Centre's objection that if allowed to go to Pakistan temporarily, Chishti may not return to India at all.

The apex court said it would like to consider Chishti's plea in view of the special circumstances of his case.