Born in Sri Lanka, brought up in India, residing in the US: IT employee faces threat of being declared ‘stateless’
A 44-year-old IT professional born in Sri Lanka and raised in India is facing the threat of being declared stateless after being ordered to surrender his Indian passport. The Madras High Court has intervened, directing the government to hold the order in abeyance while the legal challenge is reviewed.
Why it matters
The case highlights the complexities of citizenship laws and the precarious legal status of individuals caught between historical migration and modern documentation requirements.
Close on the heels of a controvery over the Indian passport being a proof of citizenship or a mere travel document , the Madras High Court has come across a case of 44-year-old Vivek Saravanamuthu born in Sri Lanka, brought up in India and residing in the United States since 2014, using an Indian passport, but now facing the threat of being declared ‘stateless’.
Justice Mohammed Shaffiq has entertained a writ petition filed by him and directed the Indian Embassy at Washington DC to keep in abeyance till July 22, 2026 a notice instructing the petitioner to surrender his passport within 10 days. He also directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to file by then a detailed counter affidavit to the writ petition challenging the notice.
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