Extension granted for 6th time for framing rules of Citizenship Amendment Act

Jan. 11: The Parliamentary Committees on Subordinate Legislation in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have reportedly given extension for the sixth time to Ministry of Home Affairs to draft rules of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). Without the rules being framed, the Act cannot be implemented.

The Citizenship Amendment Act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, and the Presidential approval came the next day. According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, the rules for any legislation should have been framed within six months of Presidential approval. Or. an extension has to be sought from the Committees on Subordinate Legislation, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The objective of the CAA is to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities like Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who had come to India till December 31, 2014. Such persons will not be treated as illegal immigrants and given Indian citizenship.