The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central government on a plea filed by a Pakistani woman seeking a visa to live with her Indian husband in India.

Justice Sachin Datta asked the government to file a response in the matter and listed the case for further consideration on November 12. 

Ruqaiya Obaeed married Delhi resident Ubada Abdul Barakat Farooqi in November last year in Pakistan. She came to India with her husband in April 2025. On April 18, 2025, she applied for a long-term visa (LTV). On April 25, three days after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals. Further, the government also scrapped the visas issued to most Pakistani nationals. 

In her plea, Obaeed has argued that she approached the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to allow her to stay in India, but her request was denied, and she was issued an exit permit on April 28. 

However, she told the Court that on April 29 - the day she left India - news reports suggested that the Indian government had clarified that Pakistani nationals whose applications for a long-term visa are pending need not leave the country.

Based on the same, many Pakistani nationals who have marital ties in India chose to stay in the country, Obaeed told the Court.

“It is further submitted that on the basis of the above said news flashes on the news channel Newsl8, the authorities in the State of Rajasthan, particularly in Jodhpur, permitted the Pakistani National women who had marital ties with Indian men to stay in India. The petitioners are similarly situated and they seek parity in treatment,” she said in her plea. 

Senior Advocate Sanjeev Sagar with Advocates Rajeshwar Singh, Chaitanya Singh, Neeraj Singh, Saloni Singh, Nazia, IA Hasmi, Shivam and Nitan appeared for the petitioners.