Bombay HC Criticises Government’s Handling of Russian Woman’s Exit Permit Plea, Stresses Need for Compassion

New Delhi, July 18, 2023: The Bombay High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the Union government’s approach to a plea filed by a Russian woman challenging her exit permit, which was issued following her divorce from her Indian husband.

The court raised concerns about the government’s complex rules and the resulting consequences faced by the Indian citizen and his daughter. It strongly disagreed with the notion that all citizens should be viewed with suspicion. The bench extended its interim relief and requested an additional affidavit from the Centre.

Justice Patel criticized the government’s rules, stating, “Your rules are difficult for us to understand…your idea of governance that all citizens are suspects is not palatable to us.” The court stressed the importance of not separating a nursing mother from her infant due to nationality and urged authorities to adopt a compassionate approach.

The woman, who claimed to have remarried an Indian man and had a six-month-old daughter with him, had been granted an exit permit in January 2023, but sought an extension through her plea in the high court. The court noted that she was not seeking to maintain her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status after her divorce and emphasized the unfairness of penalizing Indian citizens for marrying individuals of foreign origin.

The matter will be heard further on August 21, with the court firmly supporting the petitioner’s cause.