Delhi High Court denies Pakistani woman long-term visa

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Saturday declined to entertain a Pakistani woman’s petition seeking directions for consideration of her application for a long-term visa in India [Sheena Naz and Anr vs Union of India and Ors].

The woman, Sheena Niaz, is married to an Indian citizen and had applied for a long-term visa on April 23. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Union government on April 24 decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals and directed them to leave India before April 27. Considering the same, Naz moved the High Court for consideration of her long-term visa application as well as a direction not to suspend her residential permit, which was valid from March 26 till May 9.

Justice Sachin Datta, in a special hearing, said that the government decision does not warrant any judicial review as it was undertaken due to national security concerns. “Prima facie, the aforesaid order issued under Section 3(1) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 does not warrant any judicial review given that the issuance of the same was impelled by serious national security considerations. It is also not within the province of this Court to carve out any exception(s) thereto,” the court said.

Since the Court expressed its disinclination to entertain the petition, the counsel representing the petitioner withdrew it. “The petition is accordingly dismissed as withdrawn. Pending applications also stand disposed of,” the court ordered. Senior Advocate Sanjeev Sagar, with advocates Zahid Hanief, Shazia Kidwai and Nazia Parveen represented the petitioner. Central Government Standing Counsel Nidhi Raman, along with advocate Arnav Mitta, represented the Union of India.