President Murmu announces relaxation in norms for Indian diaspora in Suriname to get OCI card

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS)

President Droupadi Murmu announced that India has decided to extend the eligibility criteria for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card up from the fourth to the sixth generation of the original Indian immigrants who had arrived in Suriname from Indian territories.

She made this announcement on Monday after witnessing a cultural festival in capital Paramaribo on the occasion of the commemoration of 150 years of the arrival of Indians in Suriname.

She said that the OCI card can be seen as an important link in their

150 year old relationship with India.

The President urged members of the Indian diaspora to continue to make efforts to maintain their connections with India.

President Murmu said that at a time when Suriname is celebrating the legacy of its ancestors and its links with India, India stands with Suriname in solidarity and reverence.

Murmu further noted that both Suriname and India have made efforts to rebuild their economies and social systems after a long period of colonial rule.

"This experience has created a feeling of solidarity between the two countries," she said.

The first ship -- Lalla Rookh -- carrying 452 Indian laborers, arrived in Suriname's capital Paramaribo on June 5, 1873. Most of the laborers hailed from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against a woman named Jeeva Santosh for presenting a fake order from an Australian court before the Kerala High Court in order to obtain custody of her daughter from her divorced husband.

When the court discovered that the Australian court order was forged, it ordered the registration of an FIR against here.

A senior CBI official said that a complaint regarding this matter was initially filed with the police in Kochi city. Later, the complaint was forwarded to the Central Police station for further legal action.

"The allegation states that Jeeva Santosh, the former wife of

Joppen George, fraudulently forged a court order from The Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia (Division II) to gain legal guardianship of their daughter. She presented this forged court order as genuine in a habeas corpus petition before the High Court of Kerala," read the FIR.

The official said that Santosh, who legally separated from George, forged the Australian court order. During the inquiry, it was revealed that the document/order was fake, leading the court to order action against her.

He said that the CBI filed the FIR in accordance with the high court order and are investigating.