Delhi HC seeks Centre's reply on journalist Angad Singh's plea challenging his 'blacklisting'
Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Feb, 2023 11:15 AM
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Central government to file a proper counter affidavit to a Vice News journalist Angad Singh's plea challenging his deportation from Delhi to New York in August last year and being "blacklisted" despite being an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder.
Appearing for the Centre, advocate Anurag Ahluwalia had last month told the court that as the US-based journalist has violated Section 11A of the Foreigners Order, 1948, which prohibits a foreigner from producing any picture, film or documentary without permission in writing from the Centre, he is a blacklisted subject.
During the hearing on Tuesday, appearing for Singh, Advocate Swathi Sukumar said that she had moved an amendment application against the blacklisting which was mentioned in the counter affidavit of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The FRRO, in an affidavit, told the court that Singh was blacklisted at the instance of the Consulate General of India in New York.
According to the affidavit, Singh had allegedly depicted India in a negative manner in the "India Burning" documentary.
Ahluwalia had earlier submitted that Singh was entering India on his journalist visa for a personal visit but he wasn't issued a visa for that.
On Tuesday, Sukumar further said that she did not have a copy of the blacklisting order.
Ahluwalia said that he would file a "detailed response". He added that the primary condition was that Singh comes to the place, makes a video, gives it to the consulate general for approval, once approved, then the video could have been made public.
Sukumar argued that the Centre had to seek instructions on whether any proceedings were initiated for cancellation of Singh's OCI card.
To this, Ahluwalia said that they have not initiated any proceedings as of now and added that filing the blacklisting order may not be necessary.
While allowing the amendment to the writ petition and directing the Centre to file a proper counter affidavit to the amended petition, the court noted: "It is submitted by the Centre that their stand would be stated in the counter affidavit which is now to be filed in the amended writ."
The court listed the matter for the next hearing in May.
Singh has covered important issues in his documentaries, including the Shaheen Bagh protests, the farmers' protests and the Covid-19 pandemic in India, among others.
In his plea, Singh has mentioned that his fundamental right under the Citizenship Act, 1955, is being violated by not letting him into India.
Earlier, Singh's counsel had sought a declaration that his deportation from the government was illegal and disclosure of all the materials and data available with the government related to him.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday said it was condemnable that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was asserting that the Governor could not ask him any questions because he was "selected" and not "elected", but was allowing AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to run the affairs of Punjab.
An aide of jailed gangster Jagdeep Singh, alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, was held with 1 kg heroin and Rs 27 lakh drug money in raids across the state at suspected hideouts of persons linked with him, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.
Both Biden and Modi welcomed the landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation. Modi invited Boeing and other US companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India.
Accused Sahil Gehlot was arrested after the body of a woman, a resident of Haryana's Jhajjar, was found inside a fridge at a dhaba, owned by him, on the outskirts of village Mitraon in Delhi. As per sources, the murder was committed near the Kashmiri Gate area and Gehlot then drove with the dead body all the way to his dhaba - a distance of around 36 km.
A Turkish Airlines flight took off from Delhi carrying material donated by the Indians on Monday. India has been running 'Operation Dost' in Turkey and Syria, ever since the countries were hit by the calamity.
At his weekly press briefing here, Gill said the police have recovered 529.53 kg heroin from the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered by the police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 677.03 kg in seven months, he said.
