Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Ministry of Home Affairs’ decision to accept “revocation certificates” as acceptable documentation in place of “surrender certificates” for OCI registrations is communicated in an Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Bombay High Court in Goa has ordered the Regional Passport Office and pertinent government agencies to abide by this decision.
After reviewing several petitions contesting the cancellation of Indian passports belonging to individuals of Portuguese nationality, the Bench mandated adherence to the April 4 Office Memorandum.
The ruling also follows a petitioner’s claim that his passport was revoked, making it impossible for him to provide a certificate of passport surrender. The High Court thus requested that the application be given another look by the authorities.
Applying for an OCI card will be easier for Goan and Daman & Diu residents who have obtained Portuguese citizenship thanks to the MEA directive. Although there is still uncertainty surrounding the order, it is anticipated that the rule change will provide relief to individuals who were previously unable to apply for OCI because of strict passport requirements.
When the MEA issued its most recent circular on November 30, 2022, it made it very evident that anyone with foreign nationality who attempted to renew their Indian passports ran the risk of having their passports cancelled under Section 10(3)(b) of the Passport Act of 1967. This created a great deal of anxiety.
