2024 Implementation: Trends, Challenges, and Innovations

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019: Central Jurisdiction

The recent statement by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister regarding the non-implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, in the state, has been clarified by senior government officials, asserting that citizenship matters fall exclusively under the domain of the Union Government. This delineation means state governments do not play a role in the implementation of the CAA, which was passed by the Parliament in 2019 to facilitate citizenship for undocumented migrants from specific communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

Key Points on CAA Implementation:

• Federal Oversight: Citizenship being a central subject, the CAA’s implementation is managed by Central authorities, including the Postal department and Census officials.

• Online Applications: The CAA applications process is online, limiting the involvement of state government officials or local police in the implementation.

• Security Checks: Central security agencies, like the Intelligence Bureau (IB), are responsible for conducting necessary background and security checks on applicants.

• Empowered Committees: The final decision on CAA applications rests with state-level empowered committees, including central and state officials as invitees.

• Document Verification: Applicants must submit required documents online and appear in person before district-level committees for verification.

• Notification and Rules: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024, detailing the procedure for CAA implementation, emphasizing the central government’s exclusive authority over citizenship matters.

The centralization of the CAA implementation process underscores the central government’s jurisdiction over citizenship issues, reiterating the limited role of state governments in this context. This approach ensures a uniform application process across the country, facilitated through an online platform and centralized committees.


SRIRAM’s