Article 6 of the Indian Constitution deals with the concept of citizenship in India at the commencement of the Constitution. In this post, we will delve deeper into the details of this article and understand its significance in the Indian Constitution.
Article 6 of the Indian Constitution states that any person who has migrated to India from Pakistan before 19th July 1948, will be considered a citizen of India if he or she has been residing in India since then. Additionally, if any person has migrated to India from Pakistan on or after 19th July 1948, he or she will be considered a citizen of India if:
- He or she has been residing in India since then, and
- He or she has obtained a certificate of registration from an authority that is appointed by the government of India for this purpose.
This article is significant as it deals with citizenship rights of people who migrated to India during the partition of India and Pakistan. The partition resulted in a large-scale migration of people from both countries, and many people were left without a citizenship status. Article 6 of the Indian Constitution provided a mechanism for such people to obtain citizenship in India.
It is important to note that Article 6 of the Indian Constitution only deals with citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution. The Citizenship Act of 1955, which has been amended several times since its enactment, now governs the acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship.
In conclusion, Article 6 of the Indian Constitution is an important provision that provided citizenship rights to people who migrated to India during the partition. While it may not be directly relevant today, it played a crucial role in shaping the citizenship laws of India.