Immigration Law at India

03 Apr 2025 --
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India's immigration and citizenship laws are governed by a combination of statutes, executive orders, and judicial interpretations. The primary legal instruments include:

🛂 The Foreigners Act, 1946

This Act empowers the Indian government to regulate the entry, stay, and departure of foreign nationals. Key provisions include:

Burden of Proof: The onus is on the individual to prove their nationality. This has been upheld by the Supreme Court . (Q. With reference to the Foreigners Act, 1946 which of the following statements is/are correct?1. Only the Central Government is empowered to deport foreign nationals staying illegally in India.2. The burden of proof of nationality under the act lies with the person and not with the authorities.3. Union Territories can set up tribunals to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.Select the correct answer using the code given below:Q. विदेशी व्यक्ति अधिनियम, 1946 के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित में कौन सा/से कथन सही है/हैं?1. केवल केंद्र सरकार को भारत में अवैध रूप से रह रहे विदेशी नागरिकों को निर्वासित करने का अधिकार है।2. अधिनियम के तहत राष्ट्रीयता के प्रमाण का दायित्व व्यक्ति पर होता है न कि अधिकारियों पर3. भारत में अवैध रूप से रह रहा व्यक्ति विदेशी है या नहीं, इसके निर्णय के लिए संघ राज्य क्षेत्र न्यायाधिकरण स्थापित कर सकता हैंनीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें:)

Foreigners Tribunals: District Magistrates can set up tribunals to determine if a person is a foreigner . (Q. With reference to the Foreigners Act, 1946 which of the following statements is/are correct?1. Only the Central Government is empowered to deport foreign nationals staying illegally in India.2. The burden of proof of nationality under the act lies with the person and not with the authorities.3. Union Territories can set up tribunals to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.Select the correct answer using the code given below:Q. विदेशी व्यक्ति अधिनियम, 1946 के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित में कौन सा/से कथन सही है/हैं?1. केवल केंद्र सरकार को भारत में अवैध रूप से रह रहे विदेशी नागरिकों को निर्वासित करने का अधिकार है।2. अधिनियम के तहत राष्ट्रीयता के प्रमाण का दायित्व व्यक्ति पर होता है न कि अधिकारियों पर3. भारत में अवैध रूप से रह रहा व्यक्ति विदेशी है या नहीं, इसके निर्णय के लिए संघ राज्य क्षेत्र न्यायाधिकरण स्थापित कर सकता हैंनीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें:)

Penalties: Penalties are prescribed for contravention of provisions, including unauthorized entry and stay . (India Code: Foreigners Act, 1946)

🧾 The Citizenship Act, 1955

This Act outlines the acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship. It provides for:

Citizenship by Birth, Descent, Registration, and Naturalization: Specifies conditions under which individuals can acquire citizenship.

Citizenship by Registration: Allows for registration of certain persons of Indian origin residing outside India.

Termination and Renunciation: Details the circumstances under which citizenship can be terminated or renounced.

⚖️ Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA)

Enacted in December 2019, the CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim religious minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, and faced religious persecution. (Citizenship Amendment Act protests)

Exclusion of Muslims: The Act has been criticized for excluding Muslims, leading to allegations of discrimination and undermining India's secular constitution . (India's new citizenship law excludes Muslims. Here's what to know)

Protests: The CAA has sparked widespread protests across India, with critics arguing that it discriminates against Muslims and undermines the secular fabric of the nation.

📜 National Register of Citizens (NRC)

The NRC is a register maintained to identify legal citizens of India. The most notable exercise was conducted in Assam, where over 1.9 million residents were excluded, leading to fears and uncertainties, particularly among the Muslim population . (India's Citizenship Emergency, India's Anti-Immigrant Crackdown Has Torn Apart Families and Locked Up Hundreds. 1.9 Million People Fear They Could Be Next)

🏢 Foreigners Registration Office (FRO)

The FRO is responsible for administering foreigner registration and immigration-related functions for visitors to India. It operates under the Bureau of Immigration and offers services through the e-FRRO scheme, allowing for online registration and visa services . (Foreigners Registration Office)

⚠️ Detention Centers

India has established detention centers, particularly in Assam, to hold individuals declared as foreigners. These centers have faced criticism for their conditions and the arbitrary nature of the determinations leading to detentions . (National Register of Citizens)

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