Date: 2022-10-31Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
the verification of the application shall be done by the Collector at the district level and the application and the reports thereon shall be made accessible simultaneously to the Central Government on online portal
## Report on Amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 Regarding Registration and Naturalization Powers
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, as evidenced by an official order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 31, 2022. This order delegates the power to register or naturalize citizens of India to the Collectors of District Anand and District Mehsana in the State of Gujarat for applicants belonging to specific communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The amendment aims to decentralize the citizenship registration and naturalization process for eligible applicants in these districts.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an overview and analysis of a notification pertaining to the Citizenship Act, 1955, published in the Gazette of India on October 31, 2022. The report focuses on the policy's stated objective, key provisions, affected stakeholders, implementation aspects, and expected outcomes, based solely on the information provided in the text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This document is an **amendment** to the Citizenship Act, 1955.
* **Core Objective:** To delegate the powers for registration and naturalization of Indian citizens under Section 5 and Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 to District Collectors within specific districts.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment likely aims to expedite the processing of citizenship applications from individuals belonging to specific communities originating from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are residing in the districts of Anand and Mehsana in Gujarat. By delegating authority to the District Collectors, the Central Government seeks to decentralize the process, potentially reducing bureaucratic delays and improving the efficiency of citizenship registration and naturalization. The text doesn't state the reason for the delegation, but the focus on specific districts and communities suggests an effort to address a particular regional or demographic need.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
* **What specific part of the original policy is being changed:** The order specifies that the powers exercisable by the Central Government under section 5 and section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 are being delegated to District Collectors in the specified districts.
* **What the *new* rule/provision *is*, based *only* on the amendment text:** The Collectors of District Anand and District Mehsana in Gujarat are now authorized to:
* Register individuals as citizens of India under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
* Grant certificates of naturalization to individuals under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
* **Explain the *difference* or the *effect* of this specific change:** Previously, these powers were exclusively held by the Central Government. This amendment shifts the responsibility for these specific tasks to the District Collectors within Anand and Mehsana districts, granting them the authority to process and approve citizenship applications for eligible individuals. The Collector must verify applications, make necessary inquiries, grant citizenship and maintain online and physical registers of the naturalized citizens.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
* The primary target audience includes individuals belonging to the communities of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are residing in the districts of Anand and Mehsana in Gujarat and are seeking Indian citizenship through registration or naturalization.
* Key stakeholders include:
* The Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs).
* The Collectors of District Anand and District Mehsana.
* Verification agencies involved in the citizenship application process.
* The State Government of Gujarat.
* Potentially, organizations assisting refugees or immigrants.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:**
* Ministry of Home Affairs (Central Government).
* Collectors of District Anand and District Mehsana.
* Verification agencies.
* **Any timelines or procedures specified *in the text*?:**
* Applications must be made online.
* Verification of the application is to be done by the Collector.
* Comments from verification agencies must be uploaded online.
* The Collector must maintain online and physical registers and furnish a copy to the Central Government within seven days of registration or naturalization.
* The order is effective from the date of its publication in the official Gazette (October 31, 2022) and remains valid until further orders.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
* The intended outcome is to expedite the processing of citizenship applications for eligible individuals in the specified districts. By decentralizing the process, the Central Government likely anticipates a reduction in processing times and a more efficient handling of citizenship applications.
* The amendment should lead to increased accessibility and responsiveness to the needs of eligible applicants in Anand and Mehsana.
**9. Conclusion:**
The amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, through the delegation of citizenship registration and naturalization powers to the Collectors of District Anand and District Mehsana, represents a move towards decentralization and potentially faster processing of citizenship applications for specific communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan residing in these districts. The shift is likely intended to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the citizenship process for the target population. The implementation procedures and oversight mechanisms outlined in the order aim to ensure transparency and accountability in the newly delegated process.
Key Entities Referenced
Citizenship Act, 1955: An Act of the Indian Parliament regarding citizenship, specifically sections 5 and 6 are mentioned related to registration and naturalization.
Afghanistan: A country; one of the countries from which individuals belonging to specific communities are considered for citizenship under the mentioned order.
Bangladesh: A country; one of the countries from which individuals belonging to specific communities are considered for citizenship under the mentioned order.
Pakistan: A country; one of the countries from which individuals belonging to specific communities are considered for citizenship under the mentioned order.
Hindus: A religious community; one of the communities considered for citizenship.
Sikhs: A religious community; one of the communities considered for citizenship.
Buddhists: A religious community; one of the communities considered for citizenship.
Jains: A religious community; one of the communities considered for citizenship.
Parsis: A religious community; one of the communities considered for citizenship.
Christians: A religious community; one of the communities considered for citizenship.
Anand, Gujarat: A district in the State of Gujarat, India, where the Collector is authorized to exercise powers related to citizenship registration and naturalization.
Mehsana, Gujarat: A district in the State of Gujarat, India, where the Collector is authorized to exercise powers related to citizenship registration and naturalization.
Citizenship Rules, 2009: The rules governing the process of citizenship registration and naturalization referred to in the order.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry issuing the order.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-31102022-239955
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CG-DL-E-31102022-239955
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4860] नई ददल्ली, सोमिार, अक्त बू र 31, 2022/कार्ततक 9, 1944
No. 4860] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022/KARTIKA 9, 1944
गहृ मत्रं ालय
(जिदेिी प्रभाग)
आदेि
नई ददल् ली, 31 अक् तूबर, 2022
का.आ. 5079(अ).—केन्द रीय सरकार, नागररकता अजधजनयम, (1955 का 57) 1955 की धारा 16 द्वारा प्रदत्त
िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, यह जनदेि दते ी ह ै दक गुिरात राज्य म ें आणंद और मेहसाना जिलो म ें रह रह े अफगाजनस्ट् तान,
बांग् लादिे और पादकस्ट् तान के समुदायों के संबंध म ें दकसी भी व्यजि अथाात जहन्दद ,ू जसख, बौद्ध, िैन, पारसी और ईसाई
(जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात “आिेदक” कहा गया ह)ै को नागररकता अजधजनयम, 1955 की धारा 5 के अधीन भारत के
नागररक के रूप म ें रजिस्ट्रीकृत करने या धारा 6 के अधीन उसे देिीयकरण संबंधी प्रमाण पत्र प्रदान करने के जलए उनके
द्वारा प्रयोग की िान े िाली िजियों का जिला कलेक्ट र आणंद और जिला कलेक्ट र मेहसाना द्वारा, नागररकता जनयम,
2009 )जिस े इसम ें इसके पश् चात उक्त जनयम कहा गया ह)ै के उपबंधों के अनुसार जनम्नजलजखत ितो के अध्यधीन रहत े हुए,
भी प्रयोग दकया िाएगा अथाात :-
(अ) उक्त जनयमों के अधीन आिेदक द्वारा भारत के नागररक के रूप म ें रजिस्ट्रीकरण या भारत के नागररक के
रूप म ेंदेिीयकरण प्रमाणपत्र प्रदान दकए िाने के जलए आिेदन आनलाइन दकया िाएगा ;
(आ) आिेदक का सत् यापन यथाजस्ट्थजत, जिला स्ट् तर पर कलक्ट र द्वारा दकया िाएगा तथा आिेदन और उसस े
संबंजधत ररपोटा केन्द रीय सरकार के आनलाइन पोटाल पर एक साथ सुगम होगी;
(इ) आिेदक की उपयुक्त ता को अजभजनजश्चत करने के जलए, जिला कलक्ट र िैसा आिश्यक समझे िैसी िांच
करा सकेगा और उस प्रयोिन के जलए उस आिेदन को आनलाइन ऐसे अजभकरणों को सत्यापन और
7243 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
रटप्पजणयों के जलए भेिेगा, िो ऐसी िांच पूणा करने के जलए अपेजित हो और इस संबंध में केंरीय सरकार
द्वारा समय-समय पर िारी अनुदेिों का संबंजधत राज्य या संघ राज्य ित्रे और जिला द्वारा कठोर
अनुपालन दकया िाएगा;
(ई) खंड (इ) म ें जनर्ददष्ट अजभकरणों की रटप् पजणयों को ऐसी अजभकरणों द्वारा आनलाइन अपलोड दकया िाता
ह ैतथा इन्दह,ें जिला कलक्ट र और केन्द रीय सरकार को सुलभ कराया िाता ह ै;
(उ) कलक्ट र, आिेदक की उपयुक् तता के संबंध में संतु्ट होने पर उसे रजिस्ट्रीकरण या देिीयकरण द्वारा
भारतीय नागररकता प्रदान करता ह ै और उक्त जनयमों की अनुसूची से संलग्न प्ररूप म ें आनलाइन पोटाल
से सम्यक् रूप से मुदरत तथा जिला कलक्ट र द्वारा हस्ट्त ािररत यथाजस्ट्थजत, रजिस्ट्रीकरण या देिीयकरण
का प्रमाणपत्र िारी करेगा;
(ऊ) उक्त जनयमों के अनुसार, कलक्ट र द्वारा एक आनलाइन के साथ-साथ भौजतक रजिस्ट् टर भी रखा िाएगा,
जिसमें भारत के नागररक के रूप में इस प्रकार रजिस्ट्रीकृत या देिीयकृत व्यजियों का ब्यौरा होगा तथा
उसकी एक प्रजत ऐसे रजिस्ट्रीकरण या दिे ीयकरण के सात ददन की अिजध के भीतर केंरीय सरकार को
भेिी िाएगी ।
2. यह आदिे रािपत्र में इसके प्रकािन की तारीख से प्रिृत् त होगा और आगामी आदेिों तक जिजधमान्द य रहगे ा।
[फा. सं. 26030/266/2014-आईसी-II(खंड- II)(पाटा.)]
समु न्दत िंसह, संयुि सजचि
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(FOREIGNERS DIVISION)
ORDER
New Delhi, the 31st October, 2022
S.O. 5079(E). — In exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Citizenship Act, 1955
(57 of 1955), the Central Government hereby directs that powers exercisable by it, for registration as a
citizen of India under section 5, or for grant of certificate of naturalisation under section 6, of the
Citizenship Act, 1955, in respect of any person belonging to the communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh
and Pakistan, namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians (hereinafter referred to as the
applicant), residing in the districts of Anand and Mehsana in the State of Gujarat, shall also be exercisable
by the Collector of District Anand and District Mehsana, within whose jurisdiction the applicant is
ordinarily resident, in accordance with the provisions of the Citizenship Rules, 2009 (hereinafter referred to
as the said rules), subject to following conditions, namely:-
(A) the application for registration as citizen of India or grant of certificate of naturalisation as
citizen of India under the said rules shall be made by the applicant online;
(B) the verification of the application shall be done by the Collector at the district level and the
application and the reports thereon shall be made accessible simultaneously to the Central
Government on online portal;
(C) the Collector, may make such inquiry as he considers necessary for ascertaining the
suitability of the applicant and for that purpose forwards the application online to such
agencies for verification and comments as may be required for completing such an inquiry
and the instructions issued by the Central Government from time to time in this regard
shall be strictly complied with by the State or Union territory and District concerned ;
(D) the comments of the agencies referred to in clause (C) are uploaded online by such
agencies and accessible to the Collector and the Central Government ;
(E) the Collector, being satisfied with the suitability of the applicant, grants him the citizenship
of India by registration or naturalisation and issues a certificate of registration or[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
naturalisation, as the case may be, duly printed from online portal and signed by the
Collector, in the Form appended to the schedule in the said rules; and
(F) the Collector shall maintain online and a physical register, in accordance with the said
rules, containing the details of the person so registered or naturalised as a citizen of India
and furnish a copy thereof to the Central Government within seven days of such
registration or naturalisation.
2. This Order shall come into force on the date of its publication in the official Gazette and shall
remain valid until further orders.
[F. No. 26030/266/2014-IC-II (Vol.II) (Pt.)]
SUMANT SINGH, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.