Unrelated To CAA: Centre To Supreme Court On Seeking Citizenship Applications

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that a similar delegation of power has been permitted by Central Government in 2004, 2005, 206, 2016 and 2018 also.

The Centre Monday told the Supreme Court that its notification inviting non-Muslims residing in 13 districts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab to apply for Indian citizenship does not relate to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and is a "mere delegation of power vested with the Central Government to local authorities."  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that similar delegation of power has been permitted by Central Government in 2004, 2005, 206, 2016 and 2018 also and no relaxation whatsoever has been made in respect of the eligibility criteria between different foreign nationals which are laid down in the Citizenship Act, 1955 and rules made thereunder. "It is submitted that the notification dated May 28, 2021 does not relate to the CAA which has been inserted into the Act as section 6B," the MHA said in an affidavit and added that it seeks to merely delegate the power of the Central Government to the local authorities in particular cases. The affidavit said it is "about extending the delegation of power to grant citizenship to collectors of more districts and Home Secretaries of more Sates."