New Delhi: The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) registration of people of Indian origin will be cancelled if they are sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more, or charge-sheeted for an offence punishable with imprisonment of seven years or more.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification to this effect on Monday to curb criminals from misusing facilities granted to holders of OCI cards, ANI has reported.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by the clause (da) of Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the Central Government hereby states that an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration shall be liable to get cancelled when a person has been sentenced to imprisonment for term of not less than two years or has been charge-sheeted for an offence entailing punishment of imprisonment for seven years or more,” the notification states.
The news agency has quoted officials in the MHA as saying that the move is aimed at tightening the legal framework governing OCI status, which grants certain rights and privileges to foreign citizens of Indian origin.
“The provision applies irrespective of whether the conviction occurred in India or abroad, provided the offence is recognised under Indian law,” one of them said.
The MHA, in recent years, has taken steps to more closely regulate the OCI scheme after instances where holders were found to be involved in criminal or anti-national activities. The OCI cards offer multiple-entry, multi-purpose lifelong visas to persons of Indian origin and their spouses, along with certain economic and educational rights.
However, OCIs are not entitled to political rights such as voting or holding constitutional posts. The government maintains that the facility is a privilege, not an entitlement, and may be withdrawn if the holder is found violating Indian laws.
