HC stays order on revoking Khobragade's kids' Indian passports

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the central government and stayed its order revoking Indian passports of two minor daughters of IFS officer Devyani Khobragade for having US passports.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher, issuing notice to the external affairs and home affairs ministries, sought their response by October 8 on the plea filed by kids of Khobragade against the decision.

Hearing the matter, the court questioned the central government's moved to revoke the passport on December 30 last year without even issuing a show cause notice or hearing them.

The court said: "Did you issue a show cause notice before passing the order of revocation? You can't proceed in this fashion, that you revoke passport without giving hear ing or issuing a show cause notice."

Meanwhile, the court asked the children to travel on their US passports and they will be issued visa by the Indian government when they wish to return, while taking into note the submissions of government.

The central government's standing counsel Ajay Digpaul told the court that the government was not restraining the kids from travelling or staying in India and they can travel on their US passports.

Indian law does not permit holding of "dual citizenship or two passports", Digpaul said.

The government counsel also said earlier the children were issued diplomatic passports which can be revoked without giving any reason.

Senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for the children, told the court that their Indian passports were revoked without issuing them a show cause notice.

Khobragade, an Indian Foreign Service officer, was arrested in the US in 2013 on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid and later released on a bond.

She has faced disciplinary actions in India for allegedly acquiring US citizenship for her daughters.