Delhi High Court Quashes Centre's Decision Refusing OCI Card To The Wire's Siddharth Varadarajan

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside a communication of Central Government rejecting the request of The Wire's Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan for conversion of his PIO card to OCI card.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said that the communication is unreasoned and cannot be sustained, while also restoring Varadarajan's application for OCI card.

The Court directed the Central Government to pass a fresh order containing reasons therein.

Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, along with Advocate Archit Krishna appeared for Varadarajan who sought setting aside of Centre's communication dated April 02.

Ramakrishnan argued that the senior journalist has roots in India, and has been living here since 1995 with a PIO card. She said all PIO cards were officially deemed as OCI cards in 2015, so Varadarajan has been an OCI since then, even if his physical card was a PIO one. Effective January 1, 2026, however, the physical PIO card is no longer valid for travel as it is not machine-readable.

At the outset, the Court perused the communication and orally remarked that the same contains no reasons, and questioned the Government as to how it can be sustained.

Advocate Anasuya Choudhury appeared for the Centre and requested to obtain instructions in the matter. She said that the notification under which the request has been denied is not with her.

However, the Court said that the impugned order cannot be sustained and asked the Government to reconsider Varadarajan's entitlement by way of a speaking order.

The Court said that no reasons were assigned in the communication as to why the application filed by Varadarajan could not be considered favourably.

“Unless the reasons are assigned, the appellate court may not be able to appreciate the verasity (of the impugned order). The reasons and heart and soul of an order…. The impugned communication is set aside. Let the petitioner's application be restored and the same be considered in accordance with law and an order be passed,” the Court said.

It added that if Varadarajan is still aggrieved, he may avail remedies in law.

While the Court disposed of the petition, it listed the matter tomorrow on Varadarajan's application concerning his travel until his plea for OCI card is decided.

Title: SIDDHARTH VARADARAJAN v. Union of India