The Federal Court in Australia is expected to rule on the validity of a government decision that has made it a crime for Australian citizens to travel home from India after a stranded Melbourne man lodged a formal legal challenge against the country's Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Gary Newman, 73, has been stuck in India's Bangalore after traveling to India in early 2020. He's unable to return to Australia under the country's newly imposed travel restriction.

Lawyers representing Newman said they would challenge the constitutional validity of the travel ban. 

On May 1, the Australian government said residents and citizens who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home will be banned from entering Australia, and those who disobey will face fines and jail.

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Australia bans arrivals from India, says offenders face jail, fines

According to local media, Hunt declined to comment on the court challenge and referred only to previous statements where he said the government's travel restrictions were legal.