The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday invited citizenship application from the immigrants belonging to minority communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to apply for Indian citizenship.
Immigrants residing in 13 districts of –
• Gujarat,
• Rajasthan,
• Chattisgarh,
• Haryana and
• Punjab
Can apply for Indian citizenship by filling up the citizenship application form to be provided online.
The Union home ministry issued a notification in this effect for immediate implementation of the order under the Citizenship Act 1955 and Rules framed under the law in 2009 even though the rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) enacted in 2019 are yet to be framed by the government.
MHA invites applications for Indian citizenship from non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh living in 13 districts: order
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 28, 2021
“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 16 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the central government hereby directs that powers exercisable by it for registration as citizen of India under Section 5, or for grant of certificate of naturalization under section 6 of the Citizenship Act 1955 in respect of any person belonging to minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsi and Christians, residing in the districts mentioned and the states mentioned” a part of the official notification stated.
MHA issued notice for any person belonging to minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh & Pakistan namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jain, Parsis & Christians residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana & Punjab to apply for Indian citizenship
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2021
The Home Ministry said the verification of the application is done simultaneously by collector or secretary (Home) of Haryana and Punjab. It will be done at the district-level and the state-level.
Application and the reports shall be made accessible simultaneously to the Centre on online portal.
“The collector or the secretary thereon will make inquiry as he considers necessary for ascertaining the suitability of the applicant. For that purpose, applicant must forward the application online to such agencies for verification as may be required for completing such an inquiry and the instructions issued by the Centre from time-to-time in this regard shall be strictly complied with by state or union territory and district concerned” – the notification further stated.
“The collector or the secretary shall maintain an online as well as physical register, in accordance with the said rules, containing the details of the person registered or naturalized as a citizen of India and furnish a copy thereof to the central government within seven days of such registration or naturalization” – the official notification of Home Ministry informed.
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