Kochi : The Kerala high court has ruled that no foreign national, even if married to an Indian citizen, has a vested right to demand a visa to enter the country.
It was submitted that all visas issued by the Govt of India to Pakistani nationals, except medical, long-term, diplomatic and official visas, stood revoked with effect from April 27, 2025, and consequently visa services for such nationals remained suspended. Only long-term and medical visas issued before April 25, 2025, were permitted to continue. The power flows from its obligation to safeguard the sovereignty, integrity, security and public order of the nation under the erstwhile Foreigners Act, 1946, which has been replaced by the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news. A bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the ruling while dismissing a petition filed by a Pakistani national, along with her husband from Wayanad, seeking a directive to the central govt to grant her a visa to attend the marriage of her husband’s brother. Both petitioners, now residing in Dubai, claimed that the central govt had not even provided an option on its electronic platform to lodge a visa application for Pakistani nationals. Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs opposed the petition, stating that no foreign national can claim, as a matter of right, permission to enter or remain in India except in accordance with the law and policy decisions of the central govt. Unless and until the competent authority revoked or modified the order, no visa could be processed or issued to a Pakistani national contrary to the prevailing statutory and executive instructions. Though the petitioner sought an option to apply for a long-term visa, as prescribed in the ministry’s submission, the central govt further clarified that fresh long-term visas were not open for consideration. It was further submitted that no foreign national has a vested right to enter, reside or settle in India. the court noted that regulation of the entry, stay, movement and departure of foreigners into and from India was an exclusive sovereign function of the Union Govt While considering the petition. No foreign national has an inherent or legally enforceable right to seek entry into India, the court held while dismissing the petition. Download the TOI App.