In Brief
A foreign woman married to an Indian citizen applied for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. She was estranged from her husband, who refused to participate in the verification process. The High Court waived the requirement for the husband's presence. The Supreme Court reversed this decision, holding that spousal presence—whether physical or virtual—is mandatory under the Citizenship Act and Visa Manual to verify the genuineness of the marriage. However, the Court noted the Central Government may grant OCI status under special circumstances provisions if warranted, leaving discretion with the government on the respondent's case.
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