Centre hands over first set of CAA certificates to 14 applicants

According to the MHA, many other applicants are being given digitally signed certificates through email.

“The Empowered Committee, Delhi headed by Director (Census Operation), Delhi, after due scrutiny, have decided to grant citizenship to 14 applicants. Accordingly, Director (Census operation) granted certificates to these applicants,” an MHA spokesperson said in a statement.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday physically handed over the first set of citizenship certificates to 14 applicants.

“The first set of citizenship certificates after notification of Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 were issued today. Bhalla handed over citizenship certificates to some applicants in New Delhi and also congratulated the applicants and highlighted salient features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024,” the spokesperson said.

Secretary Posts, Director (IB), Registrar General of India and senior officers were also present during the interactive session.

According to the MHA, the Centre had notified Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on March 11. “The Rules envisage manner of application form, procedure for processing applications by District Level Committee (DLC) and scrutiny and grant of citizenship by State Level Empowered Committee (EC). In pursuance of these rules, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have entered India up to December 31, 2014, on account of persecution on grounds of religion or fear of such persecution,” the spokesperson said.

The MHA spokesperson said the District Level Committees (DLCs), chaired by senior superintendents of post/superintendents of post as designated officers, on successful verification of documents, have administered the oath of allegiance to the applicants. “After processing as per rules, DLCs have forwarded the applications to the State Level Empowered Committee headed by Director (Census operation). Processing of application is completely done through the online portal,” the spokesperson added.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which sought to fast-track the process of granting Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians—but not Muslims—who migrated to India owing to religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019, and the Rajya Sabha two days later. It received the President’s assent on December 12, 2019. Soon after the passage of the law, widespread protests broke out across the country.