Singhvi said that the “determination of citizenship lies exclusively with the Central government under Sections 8 and 9 of the Citizenship Act or with the courts and Foreigners Tribunals,” and not with ECI acting through Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
The Opposition Congress on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision affirming the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, calling it a "historic judgment" for the people of Assam.
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which grants Indian citizenship to immigrants who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971.
Previously, the bench observed that Section 6A was introduced as a humanitarian response to the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, a key historical event.
The Union government asserted that the validity of a provision could not be assailed on the apprehension of the language, culture, and religious identities of Assamese people getting overshadowed by the presence of the immigrants from Bangladesh.
The apex court said the common compilation in the matter prepared by the nodal counsels needs to be streamlined.
Sec 6A was incorporated by an amendment in 1985 in pursuance to the Assam accord for granting citizenship to the migrants from Bangladeshi who had crossed over to India before the cut-off date of March 25, 1971.
The Centre further said that the CAA does not confer any arbitrary or unguided powers upon the executive.
The Chief Justice asked the UP government if it was not encroaching on personal space and liberty of citizens and expressed hope that the administration will take corrective measures before the hearing begins.
A total of 100 hoardings are being put up at all major crossings in the city with names and addresses of 57 persons who have been identified so far for being allegedly involved in the December violence.
