“The problem is that you want to have both ways. You want to study here and then fly there. Why don’t you opt for Indian citizenship and serve this country?”
— Supreme Court
In an important observation made in the Indian apex court, a bench comprising Justices S A Nazeer and Krishna Murari asked “why don’t you opt for Indian citizenship and serve this country” an overseas citizen of India (OCI) student who sought fee parity with Indian citizens.
The court, however, issued notice on the plea filed by the student and sought response from the Centre.
“The problem is that you want to have both ways. You want to study here and then fly there. Why don’t you opt for Indian citizenship and serve this country?” the bench said.
The petitioner’s counsel contended that treating OCIs on a par with NRIs and foreign nationals was arbitrary because the OCI card provides long term visa free travel and stay in India and gives the card-holders a host of privileges normally not given to a foreign national
Appearing for the Centre, Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, said: “this is something which is a wider issue and Indian students should not be unfairly treated.”
The recently concluded NEET case was cited as an example by the petitioner’s counsel who said, “The apex court allowed OCI candidates to attend NEET counselling in general category on a par with residents and IIT Madras is asking the student to pay the same fees as charged from foreign nationals.”
The petitioner’s counsel contended that treating OCIs on a par with NRIs and foreign nationals was arbitrary because the OCI card provides long term visa free travel and stay in India and gives the card-holders a host of privileges normally not given to a foreign national.
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