Mapping Citizenship in IndiaContributing to the ongoing debates on citizenship, this book traces the Citizenship Act of India, 1955 from its inception, through the various amendments in 1986, 2003, and 2005. It includes detailed studies of other significant laws and judgments including the Abducted Persons (Recovery and Rehabilitation) Act (1949), and the Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunals Act (1983) to show how citizenship unfolded among differentially located individuals, communities, and groups. The book argues that the citizenship laws in India show a steady movement towards the affirmation of citizenship's relationship with blood-ties and descent. The volume identifies amendments in the Citizenship Act as transitions which are framed by major historical choices and decisions. It examines the liminal categories of citizenship produced in the period between the commencement of the Constitution and the enactment of the Citizenship Act, which continue to make citizenship fraught with uncertainties and exclusions. Through a discussion of laws and judgments, the work also brings out the relationship between citizenship and migration in independent India, in particular in the wake of migration from Bangladesh and distress migration because of the breakdown of rural economies. |
Contents
The Citizenship Act 1955 | |
The Citizenship Amendment Act 1986 | |
Blood and Belonging | |
Cities Residual Citizens and Social Citizenship | |
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Common terms and phrases
AAPSU AASU abducted persons affidavit alien application argued Article 21 Arunachal Pradesh Assam Accord Assam movement Assamese Bangladesh Bombay Municipal Corporation born in India Central government Chakmas citizen of India Citizenship Act Citizenship Amendment citizenship by birth citizenship in India citizenship laws Citizenship Rules claims commencement Constitution of India context counter-affidavit cultural dated dual citizenship economic elections electoral encroachments filed Foreigners Act framework of citizenship global Government of India government’s High Court Hindu ibid identified identity IMDT Act immigrants Indian citizen Indian citizenship Indian origin issue January judgment large numbers long term visas Maharashtra manifest membership MHA-IC Ministry Muslim nation-state NHRC Pakistani passport Partition pavement dwellers petitioner police political population procedure provisions question registration relationship Sarbananda Sonowal Secretary Section seen Singh slum social Sonowal Supreme Court territory of India transnational unfolded Union of India Wajid West Bengal writ petition