The Karnataka High Court has issued a significant directive to central and state authorities concerning the citizenship application of a Pakistani national residing in Bengaluru. The court has ordered the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to consider a fresh plea for Indian citizenship filed by Nighat Yasmeen and pass appropriate orders before her long-term visa expires on April 6, 2026.
Court's Directive and Petitioner's Background
Justice Suraj Govindaraj partially allowed a petition filed by Yasmeen, permitting her to withdraw her earlier applications and submit a single, consolidated one. The bench also instructed the Bengaluru police and Karnataka state government authorities to process and forward this new application to the concerned central ministries without delay.
Nighat Yasmeen married Indian citizen Mohammed Younus in April 2009 and is the mother of two children who are Indian citizens by birth. She approached the High Court arguing that her previous citizenship applications had not been duly considered. Her plea emphasized her strong family ties in India as the primary ground for seeking favourable consideration.
Visa Clarification and Deportation Fears Addressed
The court was informed that following an Indo-Pak conflict, the MHA issued an advisory on April 24, 2025, which led to the cancellation of existing visas. This development caused Yasmeen to fear potential deportation if her citizenship request remained unresolved.
Representing the Central Government, Deputy Solicitor General H Shanthi Bhushan stated that citizenship applications could only be examined after being processed and forwarded by the state government. He also submitted that Yasmeen's long-term visa had already been recommended for extension from April 7, 2024, to April 6, 2026.
Upon examining the records, Justice Govindaraj noted that the Centre's order issued after the Pahalgam attack did not apply to long-term, diplomatic, or official visas. The judge referred to a clarification issued on April 28, 2025, which mandated that Pakistani nationals without Indian citizenship must apply afresh for long-term visas via the e-FRRO portal by July 10, 2025. The court noted that Yasmeen had complied with this requirement on May 16, 2025.
Protection from Coercive Action and Final Order
The court observed that only the formal issuance of the extended visa was pending and that her visa status remained valid until April 6, 2026. Based on this, the bench held that she could not be deported or subjected to any coercive action during this period.
Consequently, the High Court directed the concerned authorities to consider and decide on her fresh citizenship application on its merits, ensuring the process is completed before the expiry of her current long-term visa in 2026. This order provides a clear timeline for the resolution of a case that hinges on humanitarian grounds and family unity.
