JOHNNY PAUL PIERCE Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr.Johnny Paul Pierce's love for India may be heartening, but his yearning to stay back is the carte blanche of the Government of India.

(2.) Mr.Johnny Paul Pierce - the petitioner, an American National, came to India, on a tourist visa, on 26.2.2020. The visa is valid till 26.1.2025. All of a sudden, the Country went into a lockdown due to the COVID - 19 pandemic and the petitioner has got stranded. For the last three months, the petitioner is remaining idle and helpless. His desire to explore the Country has been affected. If it were not for the pandemic, he would have gone back to the United States of America, converted his tourist visa to a business visa, and then returned to India.

(3.) The petitioner laments that the policy guidelines issued by the Government of India in respect of e-visa, with multiple entries, although has a validity of five years, he is permitted to stay only up to 180 days in one visit. So, he has to leave India on or before 24.8.2020, though his visa is valid till 26.1.2025. Without leaving India, he cannot apply for the conversion of his tourist visa to a business visa.