Citizenship Act, 1955 – Part II of Constitution (Articles 5-11): Module 2

The Citizenship Act (1955) provides for acquisition and loss of citizenship after the commencement of the Constitution. This Act has been amended so far eight times by the following Acts:

  1. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1957
  2. The Repealing and Amending Act, 1960
  3. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1985
  4. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1986
  5. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1992
  6. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003
  7. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005
  8. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2015
  • Originally, the Citizenship Act (1955) also provided for Commonwealth Citizenship. But, this provision was repealed by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill

  • The Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAA Bill) was first introduced in 2016 in Lok Sabha by amending the Citizenship Act of 1955.
  • This bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, whose report was later submitted on January 7, 2019.
  • The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed on January 8, 2019, by the Lok Sabha which lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. 
  • This Bill was introduced again on 9 December 2019 by the Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah in the 17th Lok Sabha and was later passed on 10 December 2019. The Rajya Sabha also passed the bill on 11th December. 
  • The Act seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship of India. In other words, the Act intends to make it easier for persecuted people from India’s neighbouring countries to become citizens of India.
    • The legislation applies to those who were “forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion”. It aims to protect such people from proceedings of illegal migration.
  • The amendment relaxes the requirement of naturalization from 11 years to 5 years as a specific condition for applicants belonging to these six religions.
  • The cut-off date for citizenship is December 31, 2014, which means the applicant should have entered India on or before that date.
  • The Act says that on acquiring citizenship:
    • Such persons shall be deemed to be citizens of India from the date of their entry into India, and
    • All legal proceedings against them in respect of their illegal migration or citizenship will be closed.
  • It also says people holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards – an immigration status permitting a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in India indefinitely – can lose their status if they violate local laws for major and minor offences and violations.

Exception

  • The Act adds that the provisions on citizenship for illegal migrants will not apply to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
    • These tribal areas include Karbi Anglong (in Assam), Garo Hills (in Meghalaya), Chakma District (in Mizoram), and Tripura Tribal Areas District.
  • It will also not apply to the areas under the Inner Line Permit under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

Acquisition of Indian Citizenship as per Citizenship Act 1955:

Indian Citizenship can be acquired in the following ways:

(1) Citizenship at the commencement of the constitution of India

(2) Citizenship by birth: NB – This provision has different clauses for different periods

(3) Citizenship by descent

(4) Citizenship by registration

(5) Citizenship by naturalization.

(6) Citizenship by Incorporation of Territory.

1. Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution of India.
  • Persons domiciled in the territory of India as on 26 November 1949 automatically became Indian citizens by virtue of the operation of the relevant provisions of the Indian Constitution coming into force.
2. By Birth (Section 3)
  • A person born in India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 1st July 1987 is a citizen of India by birth irrespective of the nationality of his parents.
  • A person born in India on or after 1st July 1987 is considered as a citizen of India only if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.
  • Further, those born in India on or after 3rd December 2004 are considered citizens of India only if both of their parents are citizens of India or one of whose parents is a citizen of India and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of their birth.
  • The children of foreign diplomats posted in India and enemy aliens cannot acquire Indian citizenship by birth.
3. By Descent (Section 4)
  • A person born outside India on or after 26th January 1950 but before 10th December 1992 is a citizen of India by descent if his father was a citizen of India at the time of his birth. In case father was a citizen of India by descent only, that person shall not be a citizen of India unless his birth is registered at the Indian Consulate within one year or with the permission of government after the expiry of the said period.
  • A person born outside India on or after 10th December 1992 is considered as a citizen of India if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of his birth.
  • From 3rd December 2004 onwards, a person born outside India shall not be a citizen of India by descent, unless his birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of the date of birth or with the permission of the Central Government, after the expiry of the said period.
  • An application, for registration of the birth of a minor child, to an Indian consulate shall be accompanied by an undertaking in writing from the parents of such minor child that he or she does not hold the passport of another country.
  • Further, a minor who is a citizen of India by virtue of descent and is also a citizen of any other country shall cease to be a citizen of India if he does not renounce the citizenship or nationality of another country within six months of his attaining full age.
4. By Registration (Section 5)
  • The Central Government may, on an application, register as a citizen of India any person (not being an illegal migrant) if he belongs to any of the following categories, namely:-
  • (a) a person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration;
  • (b) a person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in any country or place outside undivided India;
  • (c) a person who is married to a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration;
  • (d) minor children of persons who are citizens of India;
  • (e) a person of full age and capacity whose parents are registered as citizens of India;
  • (f) a person of full age and capacity who, or either of his parents, was earlier citizen of independent India, and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months immediately before making an application for registration;
  • (g) a person of full age and capacity who has been registered as an overseas citizen of India cardholder for five years, and who is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration.
  • A person shall be deemed to be of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents, was born in undivided India or in such other territory which became part of India after the 15th August 1947.
  • By Registration (Section 5(4)) : Any minor child can be registered as a citizen of India under section 5(4) if the Central Government is satisfied that there are special circumstances justifying such registration. Each case would be considered on merit.
5. By Naturalisation (Section 6)
  • The Central Government may, on an application, grant a certificate of naturalisation to any person (not being an illegal migrant) if he possesses the following qualifications:
  1. that he is not a subject or citizen of any country where citizens of India are prevented from becoming subjects or citizens of that country by naturalisation;
  2. that, if he is a citizen of any country, he undertakes to renounce the citizenship of that country in the event of his application for Indian citizenship being accepted;
  3. that he has either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India or partly the one and partly the other, throughout the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of the application;
  4. that during the fourteen years immediately preceding the said period of twelve months, he has either resided in India or been in the service of a Government in India, or partly the one and partly the other, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than eleven years;
  5. that he is of good character;
  6. that he has adequate knowledge of a language specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, and
  7. That in the event of a certificate of naturalisation being granted to him, he intends to reside in India or to enter into or continue in, service under a Government in India or under an international organisation of which Indians a member or under a society, company or body of persons established in India.
  • However, the Government of India may waive all or any of the above conditions for naturalisation in the case of a person who has rendered distinguished service to the science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace, or human progress. Every naturalised citizen must take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India.
6. By Incorporation of Territory
  • If any foreign territory becomes a part of India, the Government of India specifies the persons who among the people of the territory shall be the citizens of India. Such persons become the citizens of India from the notified date. For example, when Pondicherry became a part of India, the Government of India issued the Citizenship (Pondicherry) Order, 1962, under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
7. Special Provisions as to Citizenship of Persons Covered by the Assam Accord
  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1985, added the following special provisions as to the citizenship of persons covered by the Assam Accord(which related to the foreigners’ issue):
  • (a) All persons of Indian origin who came to Assam before the 1st January 1966 from Bangladesh and who have been ordinarily residents in Assam since the date of their entry into Assam shall be deemed to be citizens of India as from the 1st January 1966.
  • (b) Every person of Indian origin who came to Assam on or after the 1st January 1966 but before the 25th March 1971 from Bangladesh and who has been ordinarily resident in Assam since the date of his entry into Assam and who has been detected to be a foreigner shall register himself. Such a registered person shall be deemed to be a citizen of India for all purposes as from the date of expiry of a period of ten years from the date of detection as a foreigner. But, in the intervening period of ten years, he shall have the same rights and obligations as a citizen of India, excepting the right to vote.
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