India's Supreme Court Upholds Court Ruling Halting Passport and Visa Outsourcing at Four Overseas Missions

The Supreme Court of India on July 20 declined to intervene in the Delhi High Court’s decision that cancelled the technical evaluation for outsourcing consular, passport and visa (CPV) services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra. The apex court ordered the Ministry of External Affairs to complete a fresh tender process within three months and permitted temporary interim arrangements with existing service providers, ensuring continuity of essential services.

The High Court had found the previous tender process “arbitrary, irrational and lacking transparency,” violating Article 14 of the Constitution. The ruling affects roughly 4.5 million Indians, particularly those in the United Arab Emirates, who faced disruption of passport and visa services. In response, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait extended emergency‑only consular services until July 26, 2026, limiting assistance to urgent cases such as Tatkal passports and emergency certificates while regular services remain suspended.

The development underscores the legal and administrative challenges of outsourcing critical diplomatic services and highlights the government's effort to restore regular operations while complying with the court’s mandate.