The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre on a plea by Khalid Jahangir Qazi, an 82-year-old Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder based in the US, seeking permission to visit Jammu and Kashmir to attend a wedding in his sister's family.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of submissions by senior advocate Parag Tripathi, appearing for Qazi, that his client simply wished to visit the Union territory for the wedding.

Qazi's OCI card was cancelled by the government in May 2023 on grounds that his activities were 'inimical to the sovereignty and security of India'. He also faces allegations of engaging in 'pro-Pakistan propaganda' and being sympathetic to Kashmiri separatists, and was blacklisted.