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India on Tuesday downgraded the immunity of US diplomats stationed in consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad and withdrew the immunity enjoyed by their family members.
Families of Indian consular officials in the US do not have any such privileges.
The downgrading of immunity is the effect of US consular officials being issued new ID cards specifying the limited immunity, which will not protect them from serious offences. This is in line with the restricted immunity given to India's consular officials in the US — as was witnessed in Khobragade's case.
Families of American consular officials will no longer have diplomatic ID cards.
"All identity cards provided to US consular officials now stand withdrawn. New cards which are exact replicas of cards provided to Indian consulate officials in the US are being given in lieu of the withdrawn cards. These cards will only be given to consular officials and not their family members," sources said.
The move will ensure strict reciprocity in terms of identity cards being carried by Indian and US consular officials in each others' country, sources said. Sources added that, acting reciprocally, US consular staff will now only be permitted to import their requirements during the first six months on assuming office, as is provided in the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations. Previously, they were allowed to import their requirements over the three-year period of their tenure.
However, the sources dismissed the concerns regarding security of US diplomatic officials in India.
"India takes its obligations under the Vienna Convention very seriously and there has not been any loosening of security. There is no change in the security situation and all US diplomatic and consular officials are being provided security as before", they said.
Sources added that changes have been made in traffic movement patterns, while no change has been made in security status of US Embassy in New Delhi and the security personnel remain deployed at check posts there.
India downgrades US diplomats' immunity - Indian Express
We should have done this a long time back.
Families of Indian consular officials in the US do not have any such privileges.
The downgrading of immunity is the effect of US consular officials being issued new ID cards specifying the limited immunity, which will not protect them from serious offences. This is in line with the restricted immunity given to India's consular officials in the US — as was witnessed in Khobragade's case.
Families of American consular officials will no longer have diplomatic ID cards.
"All identity cards provided to US consular officials now stand withdrawn. New cards which are exact replicas of cards provided to Indian consulate officials in the US are being given in lieu of the withdrawn cards. These cards will only be given to consular officials and not their family members," sources said.
The move will ensure strict reciprocity in terms of identity cards being carried by Indian and US consular officials in each others' country, sources said. Sources added that, acting reciprocally, US consular staff will now only be permitted to import their requirements during the first six months on assuming office, as is provided in the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations. Previously, they were allowed to import their requirements over the three-year period of their tenure.
However, the sources dismissed the concerns regarding security of US diplomatic officials in India.
"India takes its obligations under the Vienna Convention very seriously and there has not been any loosening of security. There is no change in the security situation and all US diplomatic and consular officials are being provided security as before", they said.
Sources added that changes have been made in traffic movement patterns, while no change has been made in security status of US Embassy in New Delhi and the security personnel remain deployed at check posts there.
India downgrades US diplomats' immunity - Indian Express
We should have done this a long time back.
