Fri Mar 28 23:14:00 UTC 2025: ## Delhi High Court Reinstates Academic’s OCI Card
**NEW DELHI, March 29, 2025** – The Delhi High Court on Friday overturned the Indian government’s cancellation of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card of Swedish academician Ashok Swain. The court deemed the July 30, 2023 order, which revoked Swain’s OCI card, invalid due to a lack of specific reasons.
Justice Sachin Datta ordered the authorities to issue a new show-cause notice to Swain. The government had previously accused Swain of engaging in anti-India activities through his writings and speeches. However, the court found the original order insufficient, stating it lacked details regarding any specific instance of detrimental propaganda.
Swain, professor and head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, argued that the cancellation prevented him from visiting his ailing mother in India. He had previously challenged a similar OCI cancellation in 2022, which was also overturned by the High Court due to insufficient reasoning.
The court’s decision highlights the importance of due process and transparency in government actions affecting citizens’ rights. The case raises questions about the boundaries of free speech and criticism of government policies in the context of OCI status.
First Piper 