Delhi HC Seeks Centre’s Response on Pakistani Woman’s Plea for Visa to Live With Indian Husband

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Union government on a petition filed by Ruqaiya Obaeed, a Pakistani national, seeking a visa to live in India with her husband, Ubada Abdul Barakat Farooqi, a Delhi resident.

Justice Sachin Datta heard the matter today and directed the Centre to file its response. The case will be taken up for further hearing on November 12.

Obaeed married Farooqi in November 2024 in Pakistan. Following their marriage, she applied for an Indian visa and travelled to Delhi in April 2025 to join her husband. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Delhi Police, later issued a residential permit in her favour. She subsequently applied online for a Long-Term Visa (LTV), enclosing all mandatory documents.

Before her application could be processed, a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, prompted the Union Home Ministry to suspend all visa services for Pakistani nationals.

Soon after, Obaeed approached the FRRO seeking time to regularise her stay, but her request was denied. The FRRO then issued an Exit Permit on April 28, directing her to leave the country by May 19 via the Attari–Wagah border.

Citing a News18 broadcast that reported a government advisory allowing Pakistani nationals with pending LTV applications to remain in India or reapply afresh, the petition said officials failed to acknowledge or act on the update.

“It is submitted that on the basis of the aforementioned news, many of the Pakistani national women who had maintained their families, after a matrimonial knot in India, chose to disregard the order of the respondents and they managed to stay on their respective locations,” the plea stated.

It further added that authorities in Rajasthan, particularly in Jodhpur, had permitted similarly placed Pakistani women married to Indian men to continue living in India.

“The petitioners are similarly situated and they seek parity in treatment,” the plea said.

Obaeed has sought directions to the government to re-issue a fresh visit visa or Long-Term Visa, or to allow the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to accept her visa application manually, since online services remain suspended.

Senior advocate Sanjeev Sagar, along with advocates Rajeshwar Singh and Chaitanya Singh, appeared for the petitioner.

The matter will next be heard on November 12, 2025.

Case Title: Ruqaiya Obaeed Through Her Husband Ubada Abul Barakat Farooqi vs Union of India & Others

Bench: Justice Sachin Datta

Hearing Date: 6 October 2025