Accusations of “Inimical Writings” and “Disaffection Towards the Constitution” Lead to OCI Cancellation
London, May 19 – British Kashmiri academic Dr. Nitasha Kaul, a Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster, has revealed that her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status has been cancelled by Indian authorities over alleged “anti-India activities”.Dr. Kaul made the disclosure through a social media post on Sunday, where she shared details of the official communication she received from the Indian government. According to the document, the cancellation is based on accusations that she engaged in “numerous inimical writings, speeches and journalistic activities” at global platforms and on social media, which reportedly targeted “India and its institutions on matters of India’s sovereignty”.
The notice further alleges that Dr. Kaul acted with “malice and complete disregard for facts or history”. Under the rules governing OCI status, the Government of India reserves the right to cancel an OCI registration if it finds that an individual has displayed disaffection towards the Constitution of India.
Denied Entry in February, Now Barred from India Permanently
This action follows an earlier incident in February 2025, when Dr. Kaul was denied entry into India where she had planned to attend an academic conference in Bengaluru. In her latest statement, she linked the cancellation of her OCI to her critical stance on domestic policies in India, stating, “Know that arresting academics in India for speaking against hate is closely tied to removing access to country and family for academics outside India.”“The idea is to send a signal — don’t dare challenge us within and don’t dare analyse what’s going on to convey to audiences outside,” she added.
Academic Condemns Action as “Transnational Repression”
Dr. Kaul, who also serves as the Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at her university, described the revocation as “a bad faith, vindictive, cruel example of transnational repression”. She argued that the decision is a direct consequence of her academic work, which has critically analysed “anti-minority and anti-democratic policies”.A response from the High Commission of India in London is awaited as the matter draws attention across academic and human rights circles.