The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which received parliamentary approval in December 2019, is set to have its rules notified well before the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, The Indian Express reported quoting government sources.
The CAA aims to expedite Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who migrated to India due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The act, however, does not include Muslims as they are not minorities in these countries. The cut-off date for citizenship under the CAA has been set at December 31, 2014.
The cut-off date for granting citizenship could be extended beyond 31 December 2014, Economic Times reported quoting a top govt official.
The Lok Sabha passed the bill on December 9, 2019, followed by Rajya Sabha two days later, receiving the President's assent on December 12, 2019.
Post the legislation's approval, nationwide protests erupted, leading to a delay in notifying the implementation rules.
According to Indian Express Sources, the CAA rules are finalized, and an online portal is ready for use. The entire process will be conducted online, allowing applicants to apply, even using their mobile phones.
When questioned about the timing of rule notification in relation to the Lok Sabha elections, the Indian Express sources indicated that everything is in order, and implementation is likely before the elections. Applicants will be required to declare the year of entry into India without travel documents. No additional documents will be requested, and applications submitted after 2014 will be adapted according to the new rules.
Despite facing opposition and obtaining multiple extensions for rule framing, the government is steadfast in its commitment to the CAA. Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the BJP's dedication to the CAA during a recent gathering in West Bengal, dispelling misconceptions and asserting that everyone is eligible for citizenship under the law.
“Didi often misleads our refugee brothers regarding the CAA. Let me make it clear that the CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop it. Everybody is going to get citizenship. This is our party’s commitment,” Shah said.
The delays in implementing this controversial legislation have been attributed to widespread protests, particularly in Assam and Tripura, where concerns about demographic changes have been raised. The CAA is viewed as a violation of the 1985 Assam Accord in Assam, with the cut-off date for citizenship under the CAA set at December 31, 2014. The 1985 Assam Accord allows foreign migrants who came to Assam after January 1, 1966 but before March 25, 1971 to seek citizenship.
Various petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA, including those from the Indian Union Muslim League, are currently before the Supreme Court.
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