BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday came to the rescue of a 14-year-old Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) student by allowing him to participate in the orientation-cum-selection camp 2018 at Mumbai and to represent India in the 23rd International Astronomy Olympiad to be held at Colombo in Sri Lanka during September/October 2018.
Justice AS Bopanna passed an interim order to that effect after hearing the petition filed by Mohit Hulse, son of Dr Narayana Hulse, residing on Bannerghatta Road in the city.
The court also ordered notice to the respondents such as Ministry of Culture, the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Nehru Science Centre and the Chief Coordinator, IAPT Examinations and NSE Coordinator. However, the court said the interim order was subject to the result of this writ petition.
"It is made clear that in view of the interim order, if the respondents incur any expenses to either train or sponsor the petitioner, the same shall also remain the subject to the result of this writ petition. The petitioner shall not claim equity in the event of failing this writ petition," the court said.
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Nehru Science Centre and the Chief Coordinator, IAPT Examinations and NSE Coordinator called for online applications for orientation-cum-selection camp (OCSC)-2018 to be held from April 23 to May 11, 2018 at Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai and also to represent India in the 23rd International Astronomy Olympiad. The last date for submitting the application is April 14 and the process of admission is about to start. However, they did not permit him to appear for the camp and to represent India in Olympiad.
Mohit Hulse contended that act of the respondents is against the OCI Scheme 2009. He added that his parents are citizens of India by birth and they went to UK only for six years.