Delhi High Court Dismisses PIL on Dual Citizenship for Indian Diaspora

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a PIL requesting the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to allow dual citizenship for Indians abroad. The bench, led by acting Chief Justice Manmohan, stated that dual citizenship is a policy matter that falls under Parliament's jurisdiction.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directives for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to permit dual citizenship for Indians living abroad with foreign citizenship. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, alongside Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasized that the matter of dual citizenship falls within the jurisdiction of Parliament, not the courts.

The court also declined to issue any instructions to the respondent authorities about pending representations from the petitioner. Consequently, the petitioner's counsel chose to withdraw the plea. The PIL was filed by Pravasi Legal Cell, an NGO advocating for migrant welfare. Advocate Robin Raju highlighted the concerns of the Indian Diaspora, who often lose Indian citizenship upon acquiring a foreign one, citing practical reasons over disloyalty.

The petition argued that dual citizenship could greatly benefit India in sectors such as investment, trade, tourism, and cultural contributions. It referenced past recommendations and amendments that discussed dual citizenship, noting ongoing debate on the topic. However, the Constitution of India does not strictly prohibit Parliament from granting dual citizenship under Article 11, which allows legislative alterations to citizenship laws.

(With inputs from agencies.)