HC to Centre: Decide on OCI cards based on revocation order

Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday asked the Union of India to decide on applications for OCI cards using the revocation order issued by the passport office, instead of a passport surrender certificate. Several people had approached the HC over the Indian passport office issuing them revocation orders instead of surrender certificates after they surrendered their Indian citizenship upon having acquired Portuguese citizenship. This had denied them OCI cards.

The court was shown the office memorandum issued by the ministry of external affairs on April 4, which stated that the Union ministry of home affairs has now decided to accept a revocation certificate as an alternative document in lieu of a surrender certificate in the case of Indian nationals hailing from erstwhile Portuguese territories, including Goa, Daman and Diu, who acquired Portuguese nationality and who were issued revocation orders by regional passport offices instead of surrender certificates. Those who were denied OCI cards after acquiring Portuguese citizenship as well as those who surrendered their Indian passports and were going to apply for OCI cards had approached the HC.