Academic’s OCI card cancelled, Delhi HC seeks government reply in 4 weeks

NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC Thursday sought a response within four weeks from the Centre on a petition by academic Ashok Swain, challenging the cancellation of his Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card.

The petitioner, who teaches in the department of peace and conflict research at Sweden’s Uppsala University, claims his OIC card was arbitrarily barred on the alleged premise that he had been indulging in inflammatory speeches and anti-India activities. He had been issued a show-cause in 2020.

On February 8 this year, the authorities cancelled the OCI card “without giving a fair and just opportunity to the petitioner in violation of his right to free movement”, states the petition heard by Justice Prathiba M Singh.

Swain, who hasn't visited India in two years and nine months, filed a revision application before the authorities, but has yet to receive a response. He wants to urgently visit his ailing mother.

According to the petition, Swain’s role as a scholar requires him to study, discuss and critique government policies, but he has never engaged in inflammatory speeches or anti-India activities. The petitioner “cannot be witch-hunted for his views on the political dispensation or their policies”, it states.

“Mere criticism of the policies of the current dispensation shall not tantamount to anti-India activities under Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.”

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.