Photo credit: Economic Times
In a move to further clarify the provisions, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday notified changes to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, which would require certain applicants to declare possession or surrender of passports issued by Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh
The New Indian Express reports that the MHA, through a gazette notification, said that “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 18 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to further amend the Citizenship Rules, 2009 which include “I am not in possession of a valid and/or expired passport(s) issied by the Go vernment of Pakistan/Afghanistan/Bang ladesh or I am in possession of a valid and/or expired passport(s) issued by the Government of Pakistan/Afghanistan?Bangladesh.”
It also stated that those who have valid or expired passports issued by the mentioned governments must declare the dates of issue, the places of issue, and the dates of expiry.
Furthermore, they must agree to surrender their valid or expired passports to the Senior Superintendent of Post or Superintendent of Post concerned within 15 days of approval of the citizenship application.
A senior MHA described that the changes made are just an administrative clarification aimed at strengthening verification and record-keeping in citizenship cases.
