The Centre on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it has removed the name of a woman from blacklist, an Iranian Citizen, who wants to complete her studies in India and if she applies for a visa, the same shall be considered. 

The Delhi High Court recorded the same and disposed of the writ petition, which was filed by one Safri Hossain Masha, who had sought directions to Ministry of Home Affairs to remove her name from the blacklist and issue her a Student Visa, so as to enable her to complete her studies.

A Single-Judge Bench of Justice Rekha Palli directed the Ministry of Home Affairs, that as and when the petitioner applies for a visa, subject to completion of procedural formalities, should be considered preferably and expeditiously, within a period of three weeks from the date of application.

According to the counter-affidavit filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the name of the petitioner has been removed from the Blacklist, after the expiry of the retention period on August 23 and therefore, the petitioner can apply for issuance of fresh visa, under appropriate category, according to the purpose of visit to India.

The petitioner had stated that MHA blacklisted her, without supplying her with the copy of the letter, wherein she was placed in the blacklist category and without an opportunity of a fair representation. She mentioned in the plea that she wanted to pursue her studies at Sharda University, but couldn’t apply for Visa due to the blacklisting order. 

The petition was filed by Advocates Karan S. Thukral, Kapil Nayyar and Gautam Mali