tGlocaltlawtSchool

t UttartPradesh-tSaharanpurt247122

tProjectton

tCitizenshiptoftIndiat

tSUBMITTEDtTO:tPRO.AYAZtAHMAD
t

tSUBMITTEDtBY:tSHABIRtCHOUDHARY

tGU16R0026t
Tabletoftcontext
Tabletoftcontext
Serialtno. tPARTICULARS tPagetNo.

1. tIntroduction. 2

2. Background 3

3. Constitutiontprovision. 4

4. Articlet5ttot8 5-8

5. Articlet9ttot11 9-10

6. GatingtoftCitizenship 10

7. Citizenshiptbytdescenttortbytbirth. 11

8. RenunciationtandtterminationtoftIndiantcitizenship 12

9. Conclusion. 13

10. Bibliography. 14
 t
tACKNOWELEDGMENT

Thististwithtgreattpleasuretthattwettaketthistopportunityttotworktontmytprojecttoft
CITIZENSHIPtOFtINDIA.t

WhichthastnottonlytallowedtusettotknowtthetBasictFundamentalstbuttalsotlaidtdow
ntfortus.tplatformttotunderstandtthetapplicationtendtoftthetsubjectt(topic).tWetwo
uldtlikettotthankttotourtProf.tAYAZtAHMEDt.whothastbeentourtinspirationtthrough
outtforthistguidancetandtregulartwhichthastalsotbenefitedtusttothavetatthroughtun
derstandingtoftlawtandtitstimplication.
 Introductiont
tThettexttoftthetConstitutiontoftIndia,t1950trecognizestthetimportancetoftissues
toftcitizenshiptbytaccordingtatprivilegedtspacettotthemtintthetfoundingtdocume
nt.tParttIItoftthetConstitutiontoftIndiatisttitledt‘Citizenship’tandtitstsixtprovisio
nstprecedetthetimportanttprovisionstrelatingttotFundamentaltRightstthattaretho
usedtintthetnexttpart.tDuringtthetdraftingtprocess,twhichtlastedtfromt1946-
49,tatconsiderabletamounttoftdiscussiontandtenergytweretdevotedttotthetconce
pttoftcitizenshiptthattwouldtbetenshrinedtwithintthetconstitutionalttext.tThetfin
alttexttoftthetprovisionstrelatingttotcitizenshiptwastdecidedtaftertseveraltrounds
toftrevisionsttotdraftstpreparedtbytsuccessivetpreparatorytcommitteestovertatpe
riodtextendingttottwotyears.tNevertheless,trightsttotcitizenshiptintIndiataretnott
‘FundamentaltRights’,teventasttheytremaintconstitutionallytbestowedtandtrecog
nized.tThis,tastwetshalltsee,thastaffectedthowtmuchtimportancethastbeentaccor
dedttotthemtrelativettotthetfundamentaltrightstincludingtthosetrelatingttotspeec
h,tassembly,tpersonaltliberty,tetc
Background.

ThetGovernmenttoftIndiatActt1858testablishedtthetBritishtRajtandtformallytbroughttthetmajorit
ytoftIndianstundertBritishtimperialtrule.tUntiltthetIndiantIndependencetActt1947ttookteffecttont
15tAugustt1947,tIndianstundertthetBritishtRajtgenerallytfelltintotonetofttwotcategories:

 IndianstresidenttandtborntintBritishtIndiatcametundertthetdirecttdominiontoftandtboretall
egiancettotthetBritishtCrown,tandtheldtthetstatustoftBritishtsubject.tFromt1tJanuaryt1915
,tthetBritishtNationalitytandtStatustoftAlienstActt1914tdefinedtBritishtsubjectstastthoset
borntortnaturalisedtintthetBritishtSovereign'stdominionst(includingtBritishtIndia),twome
ntmarriedttotmentborntortnaturalisedtintthetaforementionedtCrowntdominionstandtchildr
entlegitimatelytbornttotatBritishtsubjecttfathertanywheretintthetworld.[1]
 Indianstresidenttandtborntintatprincelytstatet(alsotknowntastant"Indiantstate"tortat"Nativ
etstate")tundertthetBritishtRaj,tortintanytothertBritishtprotectoratetortprotectedtstatetunde
rtthetBritishtgovernment,theldtthetstatustoftBritishtprotectedtperson.[notet1]tThiststatustext
endedttotthetwivestandtlegitimatetoffspringtoftmaletsubjectstoftthosetstates.tBritishtprote
ctedtpersonstweretconsideredtdetjuretforeigners,tbuttcouldttraveltontBritish-
issuedtpassports.

Effectivetfromt15tAugustt1947,tIndiatwastestablishedtastthetindependenttDominiontoftIndia.tAl
ongtwithtsubjectstoftthetothertBritishtDominions,tIndianstresident,tborntandtnaturalisedtintIndia
ntprovincestlegallytremainedtBritishtsubjectstbytvirtuetoftSectiont18(3)toftthetIndiantIndepende
ncetAct,tunlessttheythadtalreadytacquiredtcitizenshiptoftthetUnitedtKingdomtortanytothertcount
ry.tFromt15tAugust,tBritishtprotectiontovertthetprincelytstatestlapsed,tandtIndianstwhotweretsu
bjectstoftatprincipalitytautomaticallytlostttheirtstatustastBritishtprotectedtpersons.[notet2]tThetruler
standtIndiantsubjectstoftprincelytstatestwhichthadtaccededttotthetDominiontoftIndiatorttotthetD
ominiontoftPakistantontortpriorttot15tAugustt(termedt"AccedingtStates")tbecametBritishtsubject
s.[2][notet3]tIndianstresidenttintatprincelytstatetwhichthadtnottaccededttoteithertDominiontbyt15tA
ugusttbecamettemporarilytstateless,tlackingtanytrecognizedtnationalitytortBritishtsubjecttstatus,t
thoughtremainingtsubjectstofttheirtstate.1

Fromt1tJanuaryt1949,twhentthetBritishtNationalitytActt1948tcametintotforce,ttot25tJanuaryt195
0,tIndianstintthetIndiantprovincestbecametBritishtsubjectstwithtIndiantcitizenship.[notet4]tFromt26
tNovembert1949,tIndianstdomiciledtintthetterritoriestoftIndiatbecametIndiantcitizens.tWithtthetp
romulgationtoftthetIndiantConstitutiontont26tJanuaryt1950,twhichtestablishedtthetRepublictoftI
ndia,tthetmajoritytoftIndiantcitizenstweretnotlongertBritishtsubjects,tbuttcontinuedttotenjoytthets
tatustoftCommonwealthtcitizent(alsotknowntastatBritishtsubjecttwithtCommonwealthtcitizenship
,tatstatustwhichtdoestnottentitletthetholderttotusetatBritishtpassport),tbytvirtuetofttheirtIndiantcit
izenshiptandtIndia'stmembershiptoftthetCommonwealth.tHowever,tatnumbertoftIndians,tnotably
tthosetwhothadtbeentborntintatformertprincelytstate,tdidtnottacquiretIndiantcitizenshiptontcomm
encementtoftthetIndiantConstitutiontandtretainedtBritishtsubjecttwithouttcitizenshiptstatust(whic
htentitlestatpersonttotatBritishtpassport)tunlessttheythadtacquiredtcitizenshiptoftanothertCommo

1
.-(https:en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nationality_law)
nwealthtcountry.tThetCitizenshiptActtoftIndiat(1955)tfinallytextendedtIndiantcitizenshipttotalltI
ndians,tregardlesstoftwhetherttheythadtbeentborntintatformertprincelytstatetortnot.

Ont20tDecembert1961,tIndiatacquiredtthetterritoriestoftGoa,tDamantandtDiutandtDadratandtNa
gartHavelitaftertthetmilitarytactiontwhichtweretundertthetterritoriestoftPortugal.tThetFrenchtterr
itorytoftPuducherry,tKaraikal,tMahé,tYanamtandtthetFreettowntoftChandranagore,tweretacquire
dtunderttreatytoftcessiontwithtFrance.tSikkimtwastalsotmergedtwithtIndiatandtbecametatconstit
uenttstatetwithteffecttfromt16tMayt1975.tSometoftthetenclavestinttheteasterntparttoftIndia,twere
talsotacquiredtundertbordertagreementstwithtPakistantandtBangladeshtrespectively[3]

Intorderttotexpresslytprovidetthetcitizenshiptfortpeopletintterritoriestastmentionedtabove,tthetce
ntraltgovernmenttissuedtthetGoa,tDamantandtDiut(Citizenship)tOrder,t1962,tDadratandtNagart
Havelit(Citizenship)tOrder,t1962tandtCitizenshipt(Pondicherry)tOrdert1962,tintexercisetoftitstp
owerstundertsectiont7toftthetCitizenshiptacttandtfortSikkim,tthetPresidenttextendedtthetCitizens
hiptact,tandtthetrelevanttrulestundertArticlet371-
F(n)toftIndiantConstitution.tIntcasetoftacquiredtenclaves,tthattdidtnottnecessitatetlegislativetacti
on,tastthattwastonlytatbordertdemarcationtagreement.2

ConstitutiontParttIIthastthetfollowingtarticles:

Articlet5.tCitizenshiptattthetcommencementtoftthetConstitution.
Articlet6.tRightstoftcitizenshiptoftcertaintpersonstwhothavetmigratedttotIndiatfromtPakista
n.
Articlet7.tRightstoftcitizenshiptoftcertaintmigrantsttotPakistan.
Articlet8.tRightstoftcitizenshiptoftcertaintpersonstoftIndiantorigintresidingtoutsidetIndia.
Articlet9.tPersonstvoluntarilytacquiringtcitizenshiptoftatforeigntStatetnotttotbetcitizens.
Articlet10.tContinuancetoftthetrightstoftcitizenship.
Articlet11.
Parliamentttotregulatetthetrighttoftcitizenshiptbytlaw.3
Thetdictionarytmeaningtoftatcitizentistatnativetortnaturalizedtmembertoftatstatetortothertpoliticaltco
mmunity.tThetcitizenshiptistatstatetoftbeingtatcitizentoftatparticulartsocial,tpolitical,tortnationaltcom
munity.

ThetmajortissuestintConstituenttassemblytontcitizenship

Fortthetconstitutiontassembly,ttotarrivetattatfinaltdrafttfortCitizenshiptwastonetoftthetmosttarduoust
taskstwhiletframingtthetconstitution.tThetproblemtwastpartitiontoftIndiatontonethandtandtIndiatbein
gtrecreatedtbytunitingtthetprincelytstatestontthetother.

2
-(https:en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nationality_law)

3
V.N Shukla’s, Constitution of India(EASTERN BOOK COMPANY,13thedn.,2017)
India’stpartitiontintotIndiatandtPakistantcausedtmillionstoftpeopletcrosstthetborder.tThetHindustandtS
ikhstwhotweretborntintPakistantsidetcamettotIndiatandtMuslimstwhotweretborntintIndiatmigratedtto
tPakistan.tAparttfromtthat,ttheretweretpeopletwhothadtleftttheirthomelandtIndiatandtstartedtlivingta
broadtandtnowtwantedttotcometbacktastthetcountrytwastatfreetnation.

Thetassemblytcreatedtandtdestroyedtmanytdraftstregardingtthetcitizenshiptandteventthetfinaltdraftt
wastamendedtfortmoretthant100ttimestbeforetittwastfinallytincorporatedtintthetConstitutiontastPartt
II.

Thetproblemtoftcitizenshiptwastbasicallytastfollows:

ThetpeopletwhotweretborntandtlivingtintPakistantandtmigratedttotIndiatwerettotbetprovidedtIndiant
Citizenship.
ThetpeopletwhotweretborntandtlivingtintIndiatandtmigratedttotPakistantwerettotbetexcludedtandtde
barredtfromtIndiantCitizenship.
PeopletwhotmigratedttotPakistantint1947tbuttreturnedtbackttotlivetintIndiatpermanentlythadttotbetp
rovidedtCitizenship.
ThetpeopletwhotweretborntintIndia,tbuttlivingtabroadtbuttcametback,thadttotbetprovidedtcitizenship.
t
Articlet5t:tCitizenshiptattthetcommencementtoftthetConstitution.
AttthetcommencementtoftthistConstitution,teverytpersontwhothasthistdomiciletintthetterritorytoftInd
iatand-

whotwastborntintthetterritorytoftIndia;tor
eithertoftwhosetparentstwastborntintthetterritorytoftIndia;tor
whothastbeentordinarilytresidenttintthetterritorytoftIndiatfortnottlesstthantfivetyearstimmediatelytpr
ecedingtsuchtcommencement,tshalltbetatcitizentoftIndia.
Article5trefersttotthetCitizenshiptontJanuaryt26,t1950.tThistarticletprovidedtthattthetordinarytresiden
ttintthetterritorytoftIndiatsincetortbeforetJanuaryt26,t1945tweretdeemedttotbetIndiantCitizens.tButtw
hattabouttthetpeopletwhotcametfromtPakistantaftert1947tpartition.

DomiciledtintIndiatandtborntintIndia

domiciledtnottborntintIndiatbutteithertoftwhosetparentstwastborntintIndia

domiciled,tnottborntintIndiatbuttordinarilytresidenttfortmoretthantfivetyears

residenttintIndiatbuttmigratedttotPakistantaftert1tMarcht1947tandtlatertreturnedttotIndiatontresettle
menttpermit

residenttintPakistantbuttwhotmigratedttotIndiataftert19tJulyt1948tortwhotcametaftertthattdatetbutth
adtresidedtfortmoretthantsixtmonthstandtgottregisteredtintprescribedtmanner

residenttoutsidetIndiatbuttwhotorteithertoftwhosetparentstortgrandtparentstweretborntintIndia
Thus,tCitizenshiptattthetcommencementtoftthetconstitutiontincludedtprovisionstfortCitizenship-
bytdomicile,toftmigrantstfromtPakistantandtoftIndianstresidingtintforeigntcountries4.

Domiciletoftatpersontisthistpermanentthome.tNotpersontcantbetwithouttatdomiciletandtnotpersontm
aythavetmoretthantonetoperativetdomicile.tNationaltboundariestdotnottconstitutetathindrancetinton
e’stchoicetoftdomicile.tThistimpliestthattatpersontmaytbetnationaltoftonetcountry,tbutthis/hertdomici
letmaytbetanothertcountry.tDomiciletdenotestthetconnectiontoftatpersontwithtatterritorialtsystemtof
tlaw.[2]t[3]Intfact,tcitizenshiptistdenotedtbytdomiciletandtnottvice-
versa.tThetlattertistdistinguishabletfromtcitizenshiptinasmuchtastittistvitallytconnectedtwithtterritoryta
ndtnottmembershiptoftthetcommunitytwhichtistattthetroottoftthetnotiontoftcitizenship.

Articlet6.tRightstoftcitizenshiptoftcertaintpersonstwhothavetmigratedttotIndiat
fromtPakistan.
Notwithstandingtanythingtintarticlet5,tatpersontwhothastmigratedttotthetterritorytoftIndiatfromtthett
erritorytnowtincludedtintPakistantshalltbetdeemedttotbetatcitizentoftIndiatattthetcommencementtoft
thistConstitutiontif-
hetorteithertofthistparentstortanytofthistgrand-
parentstwastborntintIndiatastdefinedtintthetGovernmenttoftIndiatAct,t1935t(astoriginallytenacted);tan
d
(i)tintthetcasetwheretsuchtpersonthastsotmigratedtbeforetthetnineteenthtdaytoftJuly,t1948,thethastb
eentordinarilytresidenttintthetterritorytoftIndiatsincetthetdatetofthistmigration,tor
(ii)tintthetcasetwheretsuchtpersonthastsotmigratedtontortaftertthetnineteenthtdaytoftJuly,t1948,thet
hastbeentregisteredtastatcitizentoftIndiatbytantofficertappointedtintthattbehalftbytthetGovernmenttof
tthetDominiontoftIndiatontantapplicationtmadetbythimttheretforttotsuchtofficertbeforetthetcommenc
ementtoftthistConstitutiontintthetformtandtmannertprescribedtbytthattGovernment:
ProvidedtthattnotpersontshalltbetsotregisteredtunlessthethastbeentresidenttintthetterritorytoftIndiatf
ortattleasttsixtmonthstimmediatelytprecedingtthetdatetofthistapplication.
Articlet6tdealstwithtthosetpersonstwhotmigratedttotIndiatfromtPakistan.tIndiatastdefinedtintthetGove
rnmenttoftIndiatAct,t1935tmeanstundividedtIndia.tThesetpersonstweretdividedtintottwotcategories.

Categoryt1:tThosetwhotcametbeforetJulyt19,t1948
Categoryt2:tThosetwhotcametaftertJulyt19,t1948
ThosetwhotcametfromtPakistanttotIndiatbeforetJulyt19,t1948twouldtautomaticallytbecometIndiantCiti
zens.tThosetwhotcametaftertJulyt19,t1948twouldtbecometIndiantCitizenstprovidedttheythadtbeentreg
isteredtintthetformtandtmannertastprescribedtbytthetGovernmenttoftIndia5.

Articlet7:tRightstoftcitizenshiptoftcertaintmigrantsttotPakistan

Notwithstandingtanythingtintarticlest5tandt6,tatpersontwhothastaftertthetfirsttdaytoftMarch,t1947,tm
igratedtfromtthetterritorytoftIndiattotthetterritorytnowtincludedtintPakistantshalltnottbetdeemedttot
betatcitizentoftIndia:
Providedtthattnothingtintthistarticletshalltapplyttotatpersontwho,tafterthavingtsotmigratedttotthetterr

4
V.N Shukla’s, Constitution of India,16(EASTERN BOOK COMPANY,13thedn.,2017)
5
https://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/constitution_of_india/citizenship)
itorytnowtincludedtintPakistan,thastreturnedttotthetterritorytoftIndiatundertatpermittfortresettlement
tortpermanenttreturntissuedtbytortundertthetauthoritytoftanytlawtandteverytsuchtpersontshalltfortth
etpurposestoftclauset(b)toftarticlet6tbetdeemedttothavetmigratedttotthetterritorytoftIndiataftertthetn
ineteenthtdaytoftJuly,t1948.
Articlet7tdealstwithtthosetpersonstwhothadtmigratedttotPakistantbuttreturnedttotIndiatfromtPakistan
twithtintentionttotlivetheretpermanently.tPleasetnotetthattthistarticletdealstwithtthet“permittsystem”
.

ThetpermittsystemtwastintroducedtintJulyt19,t1948.tThistsystemtprovidedtthattatpersontwhotistdesiri
ngttotreturntbackttotIndiatwithtantintentionttotpermanentlytresidetwastrequiredttotgettatseparatetp
ermit.

Articlet8:tRightstoftcitizenshiptoftcertaintpersonstoftIndiantorigintresidingtout
sidetIndia.
Notwithstandingtanythingtintarticlet5,tanytpersontwhotorteithertoftwhosetparentstortanytoftwhosetg
rand-
parentstwastborntintIndiatastdefinedtintthetGovernmenttoftIndiatAct,t1935t(astoriginallytenacted),tan
dtwhotistordinarilytresidingtintanytcountrytoutsidetIndiatastsotdefinedtshalltbetdeemedttotbetatcitize
ntoftIndiatifthethastbeentregisteredtastatcitizentoftIndiatbytthetdiplomatictortconsulartrepresentative
toftIndiatintthetcountrytwherethetistfortthettimetbeingtresidingtontantapplicationtmadetbythimtthere
forttotsuchtdiplomatictortconsulartrepresentative,twhethertbeforetortaftertthetcommencementtoftthi
stConstitution,tintthetformtandtmannertprescribedtbytthetGovernmenttoftthetDominiontoftIndiatortt
hetGovernmenttoftIndia.

Articlet8tdealstwithtthosetpersonstwhotweretlivingtabroad.tThetarticletprovidestthattanytpersontwho
twastborntorthistparentst/grandparentstweretborntintundividedtIndiatbuttlivingtabroadtandtwantsttot
returnttotIndiatwouldtneedttotbetregisteredtattthetastCitizentoftIndiatbytthetdiplomatictortconsulartr
epresentativetoftIndiatintthattcountry.6

Articlet9:tPersonstvoluntarilytacquiringtcitizenshiptoftatforeigntStatetnotttotb
etcitizens
Articlet9:tPersonstvoluntarilytacquiringtcitizenshiptoftatforeigntStatetnotttotbetcitizens.
NotpersontshalltbetatcitizentoftIndiatbytvirtuetoftarticlet5,tortbetdeemedttotbetatcitizentoftIndiatbytv
irtuetoftarticlet6tortarticlet8,tifthethastvoluntarilytacquiredtthetcitizenshiptoftanytforeigntState.
Undertarticlet9toftthetconstitution,tanytpersontwhothastvoluntarilytacquiredtthetcitizenshiptoftatforei
gntcountry,teventiftqualifiedtfortIndiantCitizenshiptundertanytoftthetprovisionstoftthetconstitutiontwil
ltnottbetatCitizentoftIndia.

PlenarytPowerttotparliament:tArticlet10t&t11

6
V.N Shukla’s, Constitution of India,21(EASTERN BOOK COMPANY,13thedn.,2017)
Articlet10:tContinuancetoftthetrightstoftcitizenship.
EverytpersontwhotistortistdeemedttotbetatcitizentoftIndiatundertanytoftthetforegoingtprovisionstoftt
histParttshall,tsubjectttotthetprovisionstoftanytlawtthattmaytbetmadetbytParliament,tcontinuettotbet
suchtcitizen.

Articlet11:tParliamentttotregulatetthetrighttoftcitizenshiptbytlaw.
NothingtintthetforegoingtprovisionstoftthistParttshalltderogatetfromtthetpowertoftParliamentttotmak
etanytprovisiontwithtrespectttotthetacquisitiontandtterminationtoftcitizenshiptandtalltothertmatterstr
elatingttotcitizenship.

ThetnaturetoftprovisionstfromtArticlet5ttot9tshowtthattthetobjectivetoftthetconstituenttassemblytwas
tnotttotmaketatpermanenttlawtfortcitizenship.t

OurstistatRepublictCountrytandtvarioustofficestarettotbetoccupiedtbytthetpersonstwhotaretelectedtby
tthetcitizens.tSo,tkeepingtthistintview,tittwastnecessarytfortthetConstituenttAssemblyttotmaketsomet
provisionstwhichtcouldtpreciselytdeterminetthattwhotistatCitizentoftIndependenttIndiantDominiontan
dtwhotistnot,tattthettimetoftthetcommencementtoftthetconstitution.

Further,tthetconstituenttalsotgavetplenarytpowerttotthetparliamenttoftIndiattotdealtwithtthetquestio
ntoftnationality.tArticlet10tandtmoretpreciselytArticlet11tgivetthetpowerttotthetparliamentttotmaketl
awtintthistconnectiontastandtwhentittsuitsttotthetdemandstoftthetcircumstances.tThetpowertintparlia
menttvestedtbytArticlet11tembracedtnottonlytacquisitiontbuttalsotthetterminationtortanytothertmatt
ertrelatedttotCitizenship.

UsingtthetpowertvestedtintparliamenttbytArticlet11toftthetConstitutiontoftIndia,tatcomprehensivetla
wt“ThetCitizenshiptAct,t1955”twastpassedtbytthetparliament.tThistactthastbeentamendedtfromttimet
tottimettotmaketspacetfortprovisionstastandtwhentrequired7

Gatingtoftcitizenship

CitizenshiptattthetcommencementtoftthetconstitutiontoftIndia

PersonstdomiciledtintthetterritorytoftIndiatastont26tNovembert1949tautomaticallytbecametIndia
ntcitizenstbytvirtuetoftoperationtoftthetrelevanttprovisionstoftthetIndiantConstitutiontcomingtint
otforce,tandtmosttoftthesetconstitutionaltprovisionstcametintotforcetont26tJanuaryt1950.tThetCo

7
V.N Shukla’s, Constitution of India,23(EASTERN BOOK COMPANY,13thedn.,2017)
nstitutiontoftIndiatalsotmadetprovisiontregardingtcitizenshiptfortmigrantstfromtthetterritoriestoft
PakistantwhichthadtbeentparttoftIndiatbeforetpartition.8

Citizenshiptbytbirth

AnytpersontborntintIndiatontortaftert26tJanuaryt1950,tbuttpriorttotthetcommencementtoftthet19
86tActtont1tJulyt1987,tistatcitizentoftIndiatbytbirth.tAtpersontborntintIndiatontortaftert1tJulyt19
87tistatcitizentoftIndiatifteithertparenttwastatcitizentoftIndiatattthettimetoftthetbirth.tThosetbornt
intIndiatontortaftert3tDecembert2004taretconsideredtcitizenstoftIndiatonlytiftbothtofttheirtparent
staretcitizenstoftIndiatortiftonetparenttistatcitizentoftIndiatandtthetothertistnottantillegaltmigrantt
attthettimetofttheirtbirth.tIntSeptembert2013,tBombaytHightCourttgavetatjudgementtthattatbirtht
certificate,tpassporttorteventantAadhaartcardtalonetmaytnottbetenoughttotprovetIndiantcitizensh
ip,tunlesstthetparentstaretIndiantcitizens.

Citizenshiptbytdescent

PersonstborntoutsidetIndiatontortaftert26tJanuaryt1950tbuttbeforet10tDecembert1992taretcitizen
stoftIndiatbytdescenttifttheirtfathertwastatcitizentoftIndiatattthettimetofttheirtbirth.

PersonstborntoutsidetIndiatontortaftert10tDecembert1992taretconsideredtcitizenstoftIndiatifteith
ertofttheirtparentstistatcitizentoftIndiatattthettimetofttheirtbirth.

Fromt3tDecembert2004tonwards,tpersonstborntoutsidetoftIndiatshalltnottbetconsideredtcitizenst
oftIndiatunlessttheirtbirthtistregisteredtattantIndiantdiplomatictmissiontwithintonetyeartoftthetda
tetoftbirth.tIntcertaintcircumstancestittistpossiblettotregistertaftertonetyeartwithtthetpermissionto
ftthetCentraltGovernment.tThetapplicationtfortregistrationtoftthetbirthtoftatchildtmusttbetmadett
otantIndiantdiplomatictmissiontandtmusttbetaccompaniedtbytantundertakingtintwritingtfromtthet
parentstoftthetchildtthatthetortshetdoestnottholdtthetpassporttoftanothertcountry.9

Citizenshiptbytregistration

ThetCentraltGovernmenttmay,tontantapplication,tregistertastatcitizentoftIndiatundertsectiont5tof
tthetCitizenshiptActt1955tanytpersont(nottbeingtantillegaltmigrant)tifts/hetbelongsttotanytoftthet
followingtcategories:

 atpersontoftIndiantorigintwhotistordinarilytresidenttintIndiatfortseventyearstbeforetmakin
gtapplicationtundertSectiont5(1)(a)t(throughouttthetperiodtofttwelvetmonthstimmediately
tbeforetmakingtapplicationtandtfortsixtyearstintthetaggregatetinttheteighttyearstpreceding
tthet12tmonths).
 atpersontoftIndiantorigintwhotistordinarilytresidenttintanytcountrytortplacetoutsidetundiv
idedtIndia;
 atpersontwhotistmarriedttotatcitizentoftIndiatandtistordinarilytresidenttintIndiatfortsevent
yearstbeforetmakingtantapplicationtfortregistration;

8
Citizenship act 1955
9
Indian citizenship act 1955
  minortchildrentoftpersonstwhotaretcitizenstoftIndia;
 atpersontoftfulltagetandtcapacitytwhosetparentstaretregisteredtastcitizenstoftIndia.
 atpersontoftfulltagetandtcapacitytwho,torteithertofthistparents,twastearliertcitizentoftinde
pendenttIndia,tandthastbeentresidingtintIndiatfortonetyeartimmediatelytbeforetmakingtan
tapplicationtfortregistration;10
 atpersontoftfulltagetandtcapacitytwhothastbeentregisteredtastantoverseastcitizentoftIndiat
fortfivetyears,tandtwhothastbeentresidingtintIndiatfortonetyeartbeforetmakingtantapplicat
iontfortregistration.

Citizenshiptbytnaturalisation

CitizenshiptoftIndiatbytnaturalisationtcantbetacquiredtbytatforeignert(nottillegaltmigrant)twhotis
tordinarilytresidenttintIndiatfort12tyearst(throughouttthetperiodtoft12tmonthstimmediatelytprece
dingtthetdatetoftapplicationtandtfort11tyearstintthetaggregatetintthet14tyearstprecedingtthet12tm
onths)tandtothertqualificationstastspecifiedtintThirdtSchedulettotthetCitizentAct.11

RenunciationtandtterminationtoftIndiantcitizenship
RenunciationtistcoveredtintSectiont8toftthetCitizenshiptActt1955.tIftantadulttmakestatdeclaratio
ntoftrenunciationtoftIndiantcitizenship,ts/hetlosestIndiantcitizenship.tIntaddition,tanytminortchil
dtoftthattpersontalsotlosestIndiantcitizenshiptfromtthetdatetoftrenunciation.tWhentthetchildtreac
hestthetagetoft18,thetortshethastthetrightttothavethistorthertIndiantcitizenshiptrestored.tThetprov
isionstfortmakingtatdeclarationtoftrenunciationtundertIndiantcitizenshiptlawtrequiretthattthetpers
ontmakingtthetdeclarationtbet"oftfulltagetandtcapacity".12

10
https://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/constitution_of_india/citizenship)
11
Indian citizenship act-1955
12
https://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/constitution_of_india/citizenship)
tConclusiont
t

Thistreportthastsoughtttotprovidetantoverviewtoftthethistoricaltcircumstancestandteventstthattha
vetshapedtthetconstitutionaltprovisionstandtlegislativetlandscapetrelatingttotcitizenshiptrightstint
India.tAstwithtmanytothertnations,tparticularlytintSouthtandtSouthtEasttAsia,tcitizenshiptdiscou
rsetintIndiathastbeentaffectedtbytmultipletfactors:tthethistorytoftpracticestoftcolonialismtandtthe
ttypetoftcitizenshiptregimetthattwastintplacetduringtthetcolonialtperiod;tthetchoicetoftthetindepe
ndencetgenerationtabouttthettypetoftcitizenshiptregimetthattwouldtbetenshrinedtfortthetpost-
colonialtphase;tthetcontinuingtlegacytoftcolonialttrendstintotthetindependenceteratastatresulttoftf
orcedtmigrationtand/ortseclusiontoftgroupstoftpopulations;tthetchangingtcontourstoftidentitytpol
iticstwhichtaffectstthetevolutiontoftthetcitizenshiptregime;tthetvisiontoftcitizenshiptadoptedtbytl
eaderstandtmajortnationaltparties;tandtthetdemandstoftpracticaltpoliticstwhichtrequirestthetbuild
ingtoftpoliticaltconstituenciestbytpamperingtthemtandtthet‘othering’toftparticulartgroups.tThetfr
amerstoftIndia’stconstitutiontadoptedtatmodernist,tseculartnotiontoftcitizenshiptbytseekingttotin
corporatetatbroadlytiustsolitconceptiontoftcitizenshiptintthetConstitution.tOverttime,tthisthastbee
ntmodifiedttotincorporatetvarioustelementstoftatiustsanguinistmodeltoftcitizenship,twithtthetinse
rtiontoftnotionstoftdescent,tcommontreligioustidentitytandtcommont‘national’tvaluestintotthetdi
scoursetoftcitizenship.tThististrevealingtcrackstandttensions,twhichtthetjudiciarytistoftentcalledt
uponttotresolve.tThetIndiantjudiciary’sttracktrecordtintplayingtthetroletoftantumpirethastbeentle
sststellartontthistissuetthantontmosttothertconstitutionaltissuest(Jayalt2016).tThistmakestittimper
ativetthattothertinstitutionaltactorststeptinttotpreventtatsituationtwheretthistimportanttconstitutio
naltterraintistcapturedtbytparticulartgroups.tConstitutionaltstabilitytrequirestatbalancetamongtco
mpetingtgroupstandttheirtintereststandtcurrenttIndiantcitizenshiptlawstexhibittattendencyttotmov
ettowardstantextremetend.tWhentordinarytpoliticstandtthetcourtstdotnottseemtablettotplaytatmo
deratingtinfluence,tsometothertactorstaretrequiredttotsteptinttotfilltthetgap.tOntthistissuetthattisto
ftvitaltinterest,tciviltsocietytgroupstandtacademicstmaythavettotplaytthattrole,tattleasttintthetshor
ttterm.tRaisingtthetprofiletoftthesetissues,twhichtusuallytstaytbelowtthetnationaltradar,tisttherefo
retantimperative.t
BIBLIOGRAFHY

 Printtresources
 V.NtShukla’s,tConstitutiontoftIndia(EASTERNtBOOKtCOMPANY,13thedn.,201
7)
 Onlinetresources.
 Citizenshiptbytdomiciletavailabletat.-
(https://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/constitution_of_india/citizenship)
 Backgroundtoftcitizenshiptavailabletat.-
(https:en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nationality_law)
 Reporttontcitizenshiptlaw:tIndiatauthoredtbytAshnatasheshtjulyt2017