Archive · 2 Feb 2026
Telangana High Court Rules on Three-Year-Old's Dual Citizenship
A three-year-old boy had both Indian and British passports.
The Indian government said he had to give up his Indian passport and pay a fine.
The boy's mother went to court.
The Telangana High Court said the boy, being a minor, does not have to give up his Indian passport.
The court said the rules about giving up citizenship only apply when a person becomes an adult.
So, the boy can keep both passports for now.
The Telangana High Court ruled that a three-year-old Indian citizen by descent can hold both Indian and British passports without having to renounce Indian citizenship.
The court stated that the statutory right of citizenship cannot be curtailed during minority by executive instructions or administrative guidelines.
The case involved a plea by the child's mother against the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office's order to surrender the Indian passport and pay overstay fines.
Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka presided over the case and emphasized that the requirement of renunciation arises only upon attaining full age.
The court's decision highlights the protection of minors' citizenship rights under Indian law.
- Who
- A three-year-old Indian citizen by descent and his mother
- What
- A legal case regarding the child's dual citizenship and the refusal to issue an exit permit
- When
- Recently (exact date not specified)
- Where
- Telangana High Court, India
- Why
- To challenge the order to surrender the Indian passport and pay overstay fines for holding both Indian and British passports
- Age of the child
- 3 years
- Citizenship Status
- Indian citizen by descent
- Country of Travel
- United Kingdom
- Court
- Telangana High Court
- Judge
- Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka
- Authorities Involved
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Regional Registration Office
- Key Legal Principle
- Statutory right of citizenship cannot be curtailed during minority