Delhi, 26 November (H.S.): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Union Government, demanding a response to a petition filed by British academic and author Nitasha Kaul . Kaul is challenging the government's decision to deny her entry into India and subsequently revoke her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status .

Justice Sachin Datta has directed the Centre to file its reply within four weeks, scheduling the next hearing for January 28, 2026 .

Background of the Case

The petition stems from an incident on February 24, 2024, when Kaul, a UK passport holder, was denied entry upon her arrival at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. She was invited by the Karnataka government to speak at a conference on the Constitution and National Unity.

After being detained for approximately 24 hours, she was deported back to the United Kingdom. Subsequently, in May 2025, the central government formally cancelled her OCI card.

Government's Justification and Kaul's Challenge

The government's revocation order accused Kaul of involvement in anti-India activities, alleging that her writings and public statements were detrimental to India's sovereignty . In her plea to the court, Kaul contends that the government's actions are arbitrary and lack any legal or factual basis.

She asserts that she was never provided with any specific evidence or reasoning for being blacklisted.

Profile of the Petitioner

Nitasha Kaul is a Kashmiri Pandit and a professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster in London . She completed her economics degree at Delhi's Shri Ram College of Commerce before earning a Ph.D. in Economics and Philosophy in the UK. Her academic work often focuses on themes of Kashmir, nationalism, and Hindutva. Notably, following the abrogation of Article 370, Kaul testified before a US House Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding the human rights situation in Kashmir.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar