Alarmed over the increasing instances of OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders using Indian passports, despite possessing a passport obtained from other foreign countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has lodged complaints with the State police over the issue.
“Despite having passports from other countries, where they have obtained dual citizenship, some were still found to be using Indian passports. We have made complaints to Chennai Police Commissioner,” Regional Passport Officer K. Balamurugan said.
An Indian passport is valid only till the time the passport holder is a citizen of the country and OCIs are to surrender the passport to MEA authorities. “In some cases, they are ignorant of the rule that they cannot use Indian passport after getting dual citizenship from other countries,” he said.
A majority of such cases involved persons from the Union territory of Puducherry (including Karaikal), who obtain dual citizenship from France. “Even after going there, some of them, out of ignorance, come to India using Indian passports,” he said.
Those intending to submit the passports can approach any of the three Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and surrender their passports.
According to the Overseas Indian Affairs, a total of 16,91,058 persons have been registered as OCIs as on January 19 this year.
The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was launched in August 2005 by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955, and become operational in January 2006.
The scheme, presently operated by Home Ministry, provides for registration as OCIs of all persons of Indian origin (PIOs), who were Indian citizens from January 26, 1950 or were eligible to become Indian citizens on that date and who are citizens of other countries, except Pakistan and Bangladesh.
No comments:
Post a Comment