CHANDIGARH, May 30 —The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Union government to decide within three weeks on the pending application of a Pakistani woman seeking a long-term visa to live in India with her husband.
The directive came in response to a petition filed by her husband, Sonu Masih, who alleged that the authorities had shown a “lackadaisical” attitude toward processing his wife’s application, which has been pending since July 11, 2024.
Justice Kuldeep Tiwari, while hearing the plea, acknowledged the delay in the decision-making process. “Now indolent and lackadaisical approach of the competent respondent amongst the respondents in not deciding his application propelled him to file the instant petition for seeking mandamus upon the authority concerned,” the court observed.
Masih, through his counsel Jatinder Singh Gill, urged the court to intervene, arguing that bureaucratic inertia had left the couple’s future uncertain. The couple had solemnised their marriage in India and were awaiting a decision that would allow them to continue living together legally in the country.
During the hearing, advocate Saigeeta Srivastava, appearing for the Union of India along with Additional Solicitor-General Satya Pal Jain, accepted the court’s jurisdiction. Jain stated that he had no objection if the court issued a directive for the visa application to be considered within a specified timeframe.
Concluding the proceedings, Justice Tiwari issued a mandamus, directing the “competent respondent” to consider and decide on the application “within three weeks” of the court’s order.
The case underscores the procedural limbo faced by cross-border couples amid geopolitical sensitivities, and places the onus on the Centre to act without further delay.
