Centre clarifies passport is not proof of citizenship, says position unchanged under law
The Centre has clarified that a passport is a travel document and not proof of citizenship, citing existing laws and past court rulings. Know what determines Indian citizenship
A day after the Ministry of External Affair’s (MEA) reported remark that passport is not a proof of citizenship, but only a travel document, the Centre on Thursday (June 25) clarified that the MEA did not say anything new and passport has never been a proof of citizenship.
According to a PTI report, quoting government sources, it was not decided on Wednesday (June 25) that passport is not a proof of citizenship and as per the Passport Act 1967, passports can be given to non-citizens too.
"It was not decided yesterday that the passport is not proof of citizenship. It was not even decided in the last 12 years. The passport has never been a proof of citizenship," stated the report, quoting a source.
Centre issues clarification
The development comes in the wake of which quoted MEA officials stating that a passport is a travel document, not a proof of citizenship. It is not a document that establishes citizenship.
Also Read: MEA says passport is not citizenship proof; so how do you prove you are Indian citizen?
The report further stated that officials have suggested that the judgements of the Bombay High Court in 2013 have made it clear that passport is not a proof of citizenship.
During the hearing on the Election Commission conducted Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court had observed that Aadhaar was not conclusive proof of citizenship, just a document of identity.
Passport versus citizenship
On December 20, 2019, the government of India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a comprehensive explainer via a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
It said, "Citizenship can be proved by submitting any documents related to date of birth and place of birth. However, a decision is yet to be taken on such acceptable documents".
Also Read: Digital push in citizenship rules: govt rolls out e-OCI, tightens norms for minors
The PIB also said in the FAQs that citizenship of any person is decided on the basis of The Citizenship Rules, 2009.These rules are based on the Citizenship Act, 1955.
It said five ways for any person to become a citizen of India was citizenship by birth, citizenship by descent, citizenship by registration, citizenship by naturalisation and citizenship by incorporation.