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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ W.P.(C) 18195/2025

MR. WIM EVERT K. LAUWAERT .....Petitioner

Through: Ms. Devika Mahan, Mr. Namit Suri,

Mr. Karan Seth, Mr. Dhruv Negi and

Mr. Cyril Ignatiaus, Advocates.

versus

UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents

Through: Ms. Manisha Agrawal Narain, CGSC

along with Ms. Aditi Singh, GP and

Mr. Nipun Jain, Advocates for UOI.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA

O R D E R

% 23.12.2025

CM APPL.81304/2025 (filed on behalf of the petitioner for directions)

1. Vide order dated 08.12.2025, it was directed as under:-

“1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner, a Belgium citizen

and an academician, asserting that he has been stranded in India for over a

period of two months post expiration of his e-visa, despite no fault of his

own. It is submitted that the petitioner has not been able to secure an exit

permit from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and that

the denial of the same is wholly arbitrary and untenable.

2. It is submitted that either the petitioner should be granted an exit visa so

that he can go back to his home country, or alternatively, the petitioner’s

e-visa be extended. It is submitted that the petitioner cannot be forced to

live in India as an illegal immigrant on account of inaction on the part of

the concerned authorities in either granting an exit permit or extending his

evisa that was earlier granted to him.

3. During the course of hearing, it transpires that the petitioner is required

in connection with investigation in FIR No.12/2023, P.S. Leh, under Section

14 (b) of the Foreigners Act, 1946. The said FIR was occasioned on account

of the fact that the petitioner, on 26.01.2023, participated in protest

activities / hunger strike from 09.00 AM to 09.00 PM, organized by Ladakh

Buddhists Association, Leh. A status report in this regard has been handed

over by the respondents during the course of hearing.

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/01/2026 at 22:30:28

4. It also transpires during the course of hearing that, vide order dated

27.01.2023, passed by the concerned court, the petitioner has granted bail.

It is contended by learned counsel for the respondents that investigation in

the concerned case remains incomplete because the petitioner did not join

the investigation.

5. After some hearing, it is agreed that the petitioner would join the

investigation virtually, and that a virtual interaction would be conducted

between the petitioner and the concerned investigating officer. Let the same

be done within a period of one week from today. For the said purpose, it

shall be open for the investigating officer to contact the petitioner through

email at wim.lauwaert@ucll.be.

6. Upon conclusion of the aforesaid exercise, the respondent shall take

steps to consider the petitioner’s request for grant of exit permit to the

petitioner.

7. The petitioner undertakes that, in the future as well, if he is required for

the purpose of investigation, he shall fully cooperate with the respondents

in this regard. The said undertaking is taken on record. In view thereof, the

respondents are directed to make an endeavour to accommodate the

petitioner’s request for grant of an exit visa.

8. List for further consideration on 14.01.2026.

9. In the meantime, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner

on account of expiry of his visa.”

2. By way of the present application, the petitioner applicant has drawn

attention to the fact that vide an email dated 11.12.2025, it has been intimated

that FIR No.12/2023, inter alia, stands closed against the petitioner; a copy of

the email has been placed on record as Annexure-B to the present application.

3. It is further submitted that the Investigating Officer did not require the

petitioner to join the proceedings as directed vide Paragraph 5 of the order

dated 08.12.2025. Ostensibl