Delhi HC rules against Centre’s unexplained rejection of Siddharth Varadarajan’s OCI application
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has set aside the Centre’s decision rejecting an application filed by Siddharth Varadarajan seeking an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
Varadarajan, the founding editor of The Wire, had approached the High Court after the Union government rejected his request to convert his existing Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card into an OCI card.
During the hearing, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that the government’s decision could not be accepted as no reasons had been provided for rejecting the application.
When the court raised the issue, counsel appearing for the Central government said instructions would be sought from the concerned departments to explain the grounds for rejection.
However, the judge reiterated that an order passed without assigning reasons was unsustainable.
Counsel representing Varadarajan submitted that his client’s PIO card remains valid until 2032, but has become practically unusable because the PIO scheme is no longer in operation.
Although holders of PIO cards are treated as Overseas Citizens of India, Varadarajan had sought issuance of a physical OCI card. His application was rejected by the Centre on April 2.
The OCI card allows foreign citizens of Indian origin to live and work in India for an indefinite period.
Varadarajan, a United States citizen, currently holds a PIO card. All PIO cards were rendered invalid after December 31 following the merger of the PIO scheme with the OCI scheme.
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Hijab decision taken out of fear of Karnataka Muslim convention, alleges Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that the Karnataka government announced its decision on the hijab issue out of fear of the ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on May 16 organized by Federation of Karnataka Muslim Organisations.
Addressing a press conference at the JD(S) state office, GP Bhavan, in Bengaluru on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said he respects all religions and has expressed his views on the issue on several public platforms in the past.
Questioning the timing of the government’s move, he said the Congress has been in power for three years and had taken no decision on the hijab issue during that period.
He alleged that the decision was taken only because the ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ is scheduled to be held at Town Hall in Bengaluru on May 16.
“If the government had the courage, it should have taken this decision immediately after coming to power. Why did it remain silent for three years?” he asked.
Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of making the announcement to appease a particular community.
He further said the matter is still pending before the courts and claimed that an interim order relating to the hijab issue remains in force.
According to him, issuing such an order before the legal proceedings are concluded amounts to disrespect towards the judiciary.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that the Congress brought the issue back into focus after the Davanagere by-election results.
