India, June 11 -- India has a sovereign right to deny entry to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders deemed undesirable, regardless of a valid visa, the union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has told the Delhi high court.

In an affidavit filed on May 21, MHA further stated that OCI card holders, who are foreigners, are under a mandate to not undertake the activities prohibited under the category of VISA or OCI guidelines and cannot claim the fundamental right to free speech, movement and protest, enshrined under article 19 of the Constitution of India.

Justifying reasons for rejecting permission is not a matter of right, the affidavit stated.

"OCI cardholder is a foreigner and OCI card is a life long visa issued to such a foreign...