The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) set aside the Centre’s decision rejecting journalist Siddharth Varadarajan’s plea seeking conversion of his Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav restored The Wire founding editor’s application and asked authorities to take a fresh decision on it in accordance with the law and pass a reasoned order.

“The court on perusal of the order finds that the petitioner’s request for conversion of PIO to OCI has been denied. There are no reasons assigned in the communication as to why the application could not be decided favourably,” said Justice Kaurav.

“Unless the respondent assigns the reasons, the appellate court may not be able to appreciate (the matter). The reasons and heart and soul of the order... The impugned communication is set aside. The petitioner’s application stands restored. Let the same be considered in accordance with law and an appropriate order be passed,” the court ordered.

It clarified that the petitioner can take an appropriate legal remedy in case of any subsequent grievance.

The court listed for hearing on Wednesday Varadarajan’s plea to let him travel and asked the Central government counsel to take instructions on the issue.

The journalist’s counsel submitted that he was a PIO card holder with roots in India. Although all such cards were automatically deemed to be OCI cards after 2015, his PIO card stopped being readable and he had to apply for conversion, the counsel argued.

“He was born to Indian parents. His wife is Indian. He has been in and out of the country since 1995. PIO card is valid until 2032, but it is not machine-readable,” the counsel submitted.