Professor Swain Moves Delhi HC Against Centre’s Order Cancelling His OCI Card

Professor Ashok Swain on Saturday challenged a fresh order passed by the central government cancelling his Overseas Citizen of India card. The petition is likely to be heard by the Delhi High Court on Monday.

Previously in July 10, the Delhi High Court set aside the Central Government’s order of cancellation of the OCI Card of Professor Ashok Swain. He challenged the order, stating that it was without any reasoning. He is a professor of peace & conflict research at Uppsala University, Sweden.

The Centre passed the fresh order on July 30, after the High Court on July 10 set aside the order passed by the Central Government.

Ashok Swain stated that he can’t be witch-hunted for his views on the present government and its policies.
Earlier, Justice Subramonium Prasad set aside the order passed by the Central Government cancelling the Overseas Citizen of India card of Ashok Swain.

The high court stated, “What is this order? Where is the application of mind?”

Also, the High Court directed the centre to pass a detailed order giving reasons for the action against the petitioner within 3 weeks. Advocates Aadil Singh Boparai and Sumer Singh Boparai appeared for the petitioner.

The petition was moved in December 2022 through advocates Ayesha Jamal, Shrishti Khanna, Sachin Kumar, and Siddhant Saraswat.

Furthermore, it was stated that the OCI card was cancelled in February 2022 because of his criticism of the present Indian Government. His stand is that he hasn’t given any inflammatory speech. It was also submitted that there is no particular incident or material to the effect that he was indulging in any such activities.

The petitioner claimed that he has never engaged in any inflammatory speech or Anti India Activities. As a professor, his role is to discuss the policies of the government through his work. Also, it was stated that criticism of certain government policies of the current government shall not be tantamount to anti-India activities under the Citizenship Act, 1955.