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NEW DELHI: The Centre has attacked Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Devyani Khobragade for hiding the fact her children also had US passports.
In an affidavit filed last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accused the diplomat of violating "government rules and provisions of various acts that bar holding of US passport and Indian diplomatic passport for her daughters."
The reply by MEA came after HC earlier issued notice to it on a petition filed by the diplomat challenging revocation of Indian passports of her daughters. HC has stayed the Centre's decision.
Khobragade is a former deputy consul general of India in New York. The home ministry on December 30, 2014 had revoked the passports on the ground that the children also had US passports.
HC had earlier faulted the Centre for not issuing her a show cause notice so that she could respond to the charges. The court has given Centre time to respond by October 8.
Centre had on the last date of hearing alleged that Khobragade suppressed her children had US passports when she applied for their Indian passports.
The diplomat had argued that a minor can have dual citizenship as per an amendment in the Citizenship Act and will have to state their preference within six months of attaining the age of majority, failing which they cease to be Indian citizens.
Apart from seeking quashing of the revocation order, the plea has also sought renewal of the kids' Indian passports. Khobragade, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, was arrested in the US in 2013 in a visa fraud case and has already faced disciplinary proceedings here for allegedly acquiring US citizenship for her minor daughters. She was arrested in the US on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid and later released on a $250,000 bond.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...port/articleshow/48152723.cms?intenttarget=no
In an affidavit filed last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accused the diplomat of violating "government rules and provisions of various acts that bar holding of US passport and Indian diplomatic passport for her daughters."
The reply by MEA came after HC earlier issued notice to it on a petition filed by the diplomat challenging revocation of Indian passports of her daughters. HC has stayed the Centre's decision.
Khobragade is a former deputy consul general of India in New York. The home ministry on December 30, 2014 had revoked the passports on the ground that the children also had US passports.
HC had earlier faulted the Centre for not issuing her a show cause notice so that she could respond to the charges. The court has given Centre time to respond by October 8.
Centre had on the last date of hearing alleged that Khobragade suppressed her children had US passports when she applied for their Indian passports.
The diplomat had argued that a minor can have dual citizenship as per an amendment in the Citizenship Act and will have to state their preference within six months of attaining the age of majority, failing which they cease to be Indian citizens.
Apart from seeking quashing of the revocation order, the plea has also sought renewal of the kids' Indian passports. Khobragade, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, was arrested in the US in 2013 in a visa fraud case and has already faced disciplinary proceedings here for allegedly acquiring US citizenship for her minor daughters. She was arrested in the US on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid and later released on a $250,000 bond.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...port/articleshow/48152723.cms?intenttarget=no