Citizenship Amendment Act of India to provide rights and services to stateless persons
The Government of India has recently amended the Citizenship Act 1955 by passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) in the both Houses of the Indian Parliament.
The Government of India has recently amended the Citizenship Act 1955 by passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) in the both Houses of the Indian Parliament.
Explaining the primary objective of the Act, an official of the Press Department of the Embassy of India said that the main purpose of Act is to provide rights and government services to stateless persons who have fled to India before 31 December 2014 because of religious persecution and have been living in India for many years. According to the Act, these migrants from minority communities in three neighbouring countries of India will be eligible to acquire Indian citizenship after residence period of six years. The Act does not prevent any other foreigners from any other country or any religion to apply for Indian citizenship. However, in such cases, the required residency will remain 12 years provided such persons fulfill all the qualifications laid down by the Citizenship Act 1955.
No law passed by the Parliament of India, including the CAA 2019 can take away the citizenship of any Indian citizen. India as a Parliamentary Democracy provides equality to all its citizens irrespective of faith or language and every citizen of India enjoys the same Fundamental Rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Reports that CAA will lead to deportation of foreigners are factually not correct as the Act has nothing to do with deportation of any foreigner from India and any deportation of a foreign national irrespective of religion or country will be implemented according to existing laws and independent of the CAA.
Regarding linking of the National Population Register (NPR) with the idea of National Register for Citizens (NRC), the official explained that these are two entirely separate issues. The NPR consist of data for all persons who reside in India, including declared foreign citizens. The NPR was first conducted in the country in 2010-2011 along with the census, whereas no decision has been taken on the National Register of Citizens (NRC). However, NPR needs to be updated as there have been significant changes due to migration in place of residence, births, deaths etc.