Representative Image
New Delhi: The Government of India is likely to notify the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) soon, according to reports in the media. This will expedite the process of granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The CAA was passed in 2019, but the rules have not yet been notified. This means that it could not be implemented till now. The government has attributed the delay in notifying the rules to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to conduct a national census.
The forthcoming notification of the CAA rules is expected to be accompanied by the crucial process of constituency delimitation. Delimitation involves redrawing electoral boundaries based on population data, and the next such exercise is scheduled before 2027.
Ever since its passage, the CAA has remained a subject of controversy, with critics contending that it is discriminatory against Muslims. However, the government has steadfastly maintained that the legislation is indispensable for safeguarding persecuted minorities.
The impending notification of the CAA rules is anticipated to be received positively by Hindu refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many of these refugees have resided in India for extended periods without formal citizenship. The CAA will offer them an opportunity to acquire Indian citizenship and partake in the same rights and privileges as other citizens.
What is Indian Citizenship Amendment Act?
The Indian Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a legislation passed in 2019 that amends the Citizenship Act of 1955. The primary objective of the CAA is to expedite the process of granting Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Specifically, the CAA extends eligibility for Indian citizenship to individuals belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities who faced religious persecution in these countries and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Notably, the law excludes Muslims from this eligibility criterion.
Under the CAA, individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities who entered India from these countries before December 31, 2014, and faced religious persecution are eligible for expedited citizenship. The CAA, in effect, relaxes the standard residency requirement for naturalization from 11 years to 5 years for these specific groups.
It’s important to note that the CAA, by itself, does not affect the existing citizenship status of any Indian citizen. It provides an additional pathway to citizenship for specific religious minority groups from the mentioned countries.
Leave a Comment