Source: http://peractolegal.com/the-citizenship-act-1955/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 20:22:02+00:00

Document:
This Act may be called the Citizenship Act, 1955.
(h) “undivided India” means India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, as originally enacted.
To expand the scope of grant of Overseas Citizenship of India to Persons of Indian Origin of all countries except Pakistan and Bangladesh.
aircraft, or aboard an unregistered ship or aircraft of the Government of any country, shall be deemed to have been born in the place in which the ship or aircraft was registered or, as the case may be, in that country.
(3) Any reference in this Act to the status or description of the father of a person at the time of that person’s birth shall, in relation to a person born after the death of his father, be construed as a reference to the status or description of the father at the time of the father’s death; and where that death occurred before, and the birth occurs after, the commencement of this Act, the status or description which would have been applicable to the father had he died after the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be the status or description applicable to him at the time of his death.
if he is not a minor and of full capacity if he is not of unsound mind.
(i) The Citizenship Act and the Constitution are completely exhaustive of the citizenship of this country and these citizens can only be natural persons, the fact that corporations may be nationals of the country for purposes of International laws will not make them citizens of this country for purposes of Municipal Law or the Constitution; State Trading Corporation of India v. Commercial Tax Officer, AIR 1963 SC 1811.
(ii) Nationality and Citizenship are not ‘interchangeable terms; State Trading Corporation of India v. Commercial Tax Officer, AIR 1963 SC 1811.
(iii) “Citizenship” has nothing to do with a juristic person. “Person” means a natural person and not any legal entity; State Trading Corporation of India v. Commercial Tax Officer, AIR 1963 SC 1811.
1. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 2, for clauses (b) and (el-and the proviso to clause (c) (w.e.f, 3-12-2004). (See Annexe 1) .
3. Clause (gg) omitted by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005, sec. 2 (w.r.e.f, 28-6-2005).
Provided further that every notification issued under this clause shall, as soon as may be, after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament”.
Provided further that if either of the parents of a person referred to in clause (b) was a citizen of India by descent only, that person shall not be a citizen of India by virtue of this section unless- .
(3) For the purposes of the proviso to sub-section (I), any 2[person] born outside undivided India who was, or was deemed to be, a citizen of India at the commencement of the Constitution shall be deemed to be a citizen of India by descent only.
2. Subs. by Act 39 of 1992, sec. 2, for “any male person” (w.e.f. 10-12-1992).
(g) a person of full age and capacity who has been registered as an overseas citizen of India for five years, and who has been residing in India for 2[one year] before making an application for registration.
To reduce the period of residence in India from two years to one year for the persons registered as Overseas Citizens of India to acquire Indian citizenship.
(3) No person who has renounced, or has been deprived of, his Indian citizenship or whose Indian citizenship has terminated, under this Act shall be registered as a citizen of India under sub-section (1) except by order of the Central Government.
(4) The Central Government may, if satisfied that there are special circumstances justifying such registration, cause any minor to be registered as a citizen of India.
(5) A person registered under this section shall be a citizen of India by registration as from the date on which he is so registered; and a person registered under the provisions of clause(b)(ii) of article 6 or article 8 of the Constitution shall be deemed to be a citizen of India by registration as from the commencement of the Constitution or the date on which he was so registered, whichever may be later.
If a person satisfies the requirements of this section, he/she can be registered as a citizen of India. This section can be invoked by persons who are not citizens of India but are seeking citizenship by registration; National Human Rights Commission v. State of Arunachal Pradesh, AIR 1996 SC 1234: (1996) 1 SCC 742.
2. Subs. by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005, sec. 3, for “two years”, (w.r.e.f. 28-6-2005).
3. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 5 (w.e.f, 3-12-2004).
waive all or any of the conditions specified in the Third Schedule.
(2) The person to whom a certificate of naturalisation is granted under subsection (1) shall, on taking the oath of allegiance in the form specified in the Second Schedule, be a citizen of India by naturalisation as from the date on which that certificate is granted.
1. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 6, for “who is not a citizen of a country specified in the First Schedule (w.e.f, 3-12-2004).
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (6) and (7), all persons of Indian origin who came before the Ist day of January, 1966 to Assam from the specified territory (including such of those whose names were included in the electoral rolls used for the purposes of the General Election to the House of the People held in 1967) and who have been ordinarily resident in Assam since the dates of their entry into Assam shall be deemed to be citizens of India as from the Ist day of January, 1966.
shall register himself in accordance with the rules made by the Central Government in this behalf under section 18 with such authority (thereafter in this sub-section referred to as the registering authority) as may be specified in such rules and if his name is included in any electoral roll for any Assembly or Parliamentary constituency in force on the date of such detection, his name shall be deleted therefrom.
(ii) if such opinion does not contain a finding with respect to such other requirement, refer the question to a Tribunal constituted under the said Order hang jurisdiction in accordance with such rules as the Central Government may make in this behalf under section 18 and decide the question in conformity with the opinion received on such reference.
Explanation.- Where a person required to file a declaration under this subsection does not have the capacity to enter into a contract, such declaration may be filed on his behalf by any person competent under the law for the time being in force to act on his behalf.
Under sub-section (2) of section 6A two conditions are required to be satisfied-(i) persons who are of Indian origin (undivided India) came before 1-1-1966 to Assam from the specified territory, and (ii) have been “ordinarily resident” in Assam as it existed in 1985 since the date of entry in Assam; State of Arunachal Pradesh v. Khudiram Chakma, AIR 1994 SC 1961.
1. Ins. by Act 65 of 1985, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-12-1985).
If any territory becomes a part of India, the Central Government may, by order notified in the Official Gazette, specify the persons who shall be citizens of India by reason of their connection with that territory; and those persons shall be citizens of India as from the date to be specified in the order.
(c) parity with Non-Resident Indians in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 7 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
(c) that person is a minor of a person mentioned in clause (a) or clause (b).
(2) The person registered as an overseas citizen of India under sub-section (1) shall be an overseas citizen of India as from the date on which he is so registered.
(3) No person who has been deprived of his Indian citizenship under this Act shall be registered as an overseas citizen of India under sub-section (1) except by an order of the Central Government.
1[Conferment of rights on overseas citizens of India.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, an overseas citizen of India shall be entitled to such rights [other than the rights specified under sub-section (2)] as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
1[Renunciation of overseas citizenship. (1) If any overseas citizen of India of full age and capacity makes in the prescribed manner a declaration renouncing his overseas citizenship of India, the declaration shall be registered by the Central Government, and; upon such registration, that person shall cease to be an overseas citizen of India.
resume Indian citizenship and shall thereupon again become a citizen of India.
A person who gives up his claim to Indian citizenship cannot claim right of residence on the basis of his domicile; A.H. Magermans v. S.K. Chose, AIR 1966 Cal 552.
1. The words “who is also a citizen or national of another country”, omitted by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 8 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
2. Subs. by Act 39 of 1992, sec. 3, for “a male person” (w.e.f. 10-12-1992).
3. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 8 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
(2) If any question arises as to whether, when or how any 1[citizen of India] has acquired the citizenship of another country, it shall be determined by such authority, in such manner, and having regard to such rules of evidence, as may be prescribed in this behalf.
Section 9 is a complete code as regards the termination of Indian citizenship on the acquisition of the citizenship of a foreign country; Bhagwati Prasad Dixit ‘Ghorctoala’ v. Rajeev Gandhi, AIR 1986 SC 1534.
1. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 9, for “person” (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
(1) A citizen of India who is such by riaturalisation or by virtue only of clause (c) of article 5 of the Constitution or by registration otherwise than under clause (b) (ii) of arlicle 6 of the Constitution or clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 5 of this Act, shall cease to be a citizen of India, if he is deprived of that citizenship by an order of the Central Government under this section.
(e) that citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for a continuous period of seven years, and during that period, has neither been at any time a student of any educational institution in a country outside India or in the service of a Government in India or of an international organisation of which India is a member, nor registered annually in the prescribed manner at an Indian consulate his intention to retain his citizenship of India.
this section unless it is satisfied that it is not conducive to the public good that the person should continue to be a citizen of India.
(4) Before making an order under this section, the Central Government shall give the person against whom the order is proposed to be made notice in writing informing him of the ground on which it is proposed to be made and, if the order is proposed to be made on any of the grounds specified in sub-section (2) other than clause (e) thereof, of his right, upon making application therefor in the prescribed manner, to have his case referred to a committee of inquiry under this section.
(5) If the order is proposed to be made against a person on any of the grounds specified in sub-section (2) other than clause (e) thereof and that person so applies in the prescribed manner, the Central Government shall, and in any other case it may, refer the case to a Committee of Inquiry consisting of a chairman (being a person who has for at least ten years held a judicial office) and two other members appointed by the Central Government in this behalf.
Certificate of Registration cannot be cancelled unless fraud, false, representation or suppression of material fact exists; Fazal Dadv. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1964 MP 272.
The Central Government may, in such cases as it thinks fit, certify that a person, with respect to whose citizenship of India a doubt exists, is a citizen of India; and a certificate issued under this section shall, unless it is proved that it was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact, be conclusive evidence that person was such a citizen on the date thereof, but without prejudice to any evidence that he was such a citizen at an earlier date.
Disposal of application under 1[sections 5, 6 and 7A]. (1) The prescribed authority or the Central Government may, in its discretion, grant or refuse an application under 2[section 5,6 or section 7A] and shall not be required to assign any reasons for such grant or refusal.
(2) Subject to the provisions of section 15 the decision of the prescribed authority or the Central Government on any such application as aforesaid shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court.
1. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 11, for “sections 5 and 6” (w.e.f, 3-12-2004).
2. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 11, for “section 5 or section 6” (w.e.f, 3-12-2004). Ed. section 11 of the Act 6 of 2004, states that for the words and figures “sections 5 and 6”, the words, figures and letter “sections 5, 6 and 7A” shall be substituted. The words “sections 5 and 6” appear in the heading and not in the body, but in the body the text has been changed according to its construction.
1[Issue of national identity cards. (1) The Central Government may compulsorily register every citizen of India and issue national identity card to him.
(2) The Central Government may maintain a National Register of Indian Citizens and for that purpose establish a National Registration Authority.
(3) On and from the date of commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003, the Registrar General, India, appointed under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (18 of 1969) shall act as the National Registration Authority and he shall function as the Registrar General of Citizen Registration.
(4) The Central Government may appoint such other officers and staff as may be required to assist the Registrar General of Citizen Registration in discharging his functions and responsibilities.
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 12 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
(2) On receipt of any such application under sub-section (I), the Central Government shall, after considering the application of the aggrieved person and any report thereon which the officer or authority making the order may submit, make such order in relation to the application as it deems fit, and the decision of the Central Government shall be final.
Provided further that an application for a review of an order passed in terms of the provisions of section 14A shall be disposed of in the manner provided for in the procedure as may be laid down under clause (ia) of sub-section (2) of section 18.
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 13 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
such officer or authority as may be so specified.
Any person who, for the purpose of procuring anything to be done or not to be done under this Act, knowingly makes any representation which is false in a material particular shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1[five years], or 2[with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees], or with both.
1. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 14, for “six months” (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
2. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 14, for “with fine” (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 15 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
2. Ins. by Act 65 of 1985, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 7-12-1985).
3. Ins. by Act 65 of 1985, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 7-12-1985).
4. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 15 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
5. Subs. by Act 4 of 1986, sec. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 15-5-1986).
(ii) allow periods of residence or service earlier than 5[fifteen years] before the date of the application to be reckoned in computing the aggregate mentioned in clause (d) above.
1. The words “who is not a citizen of a country specified in the First Schedule” omitted by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 18 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
2. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 18, for “he has renounced the citizenship of that country in accordance with the law therein in force in that behalf and has notified such renunciation to the Central Government” (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
3. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 18, for “twelve years” (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
5. Subs. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 18, for “thirteen years” (w.e.f. 3-12-2004).
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2004, sec. 19 (w.e.f. 3-12-2004) and omitted by he Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005 sec. 5 (w.e.f. 28-6-2005).

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