French Journalist Denied Permission To Work In India; Delhi HC Asks Reason From Home Ministry

Delhi High Court has sought response from the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs on the petition by French journalist Vanessa Dougnac against the Central Government’s refusal to grant her permission to carry out journalistic activities in India.

Home Ministry needs to reply in a week

Justice Subramaniam Prasad directed the Home and External Affairs Ministries to file their replies within a week and posted the hearing for March 12. The court said that the matter pertains to the rights of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holder and hence it needs immediate attention.

Petitioner Dougnac has challenged the order passed by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) on September 14, 2022, wherein his application for OCI Activity Permission to undertake journalism activity in India was rejected.

They have sought direction to the Central Government to restore their OCI activity permission and take a decision in accordance with the applicable law and principles of natural justice.

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Show cause notice issued to the French journalist

He said the impugned order of the Center is a summary one-line order which has been passed in a mechanical manner without any application of mind and in complete violation of the principles of natural justice and due process.

A show cause notice was issued by the Center to the journalist on January 18 as to why his OCI was canceled in the interest of the people of India and the general public under Section 7D(E) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of Should not be done.

The petition said that although the journalist sent a reply to the show cause notice, he did not receive any reply. Journalist Kasa said she has been living in India for more than 25 years, is married to an Indian citizen and has a son who is an OCI card holder.