Bombay High Court Revokes Belief That Aadhaar, PAN, Or Voter ID Makes One An Indian Citizen

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-08-12 12:41:57 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-13 00:55:51

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Recently, the Bombay High Court ruled that possessing Aadhaar, PAN, or voter ID does not prove Indian citizenship. The ruling came about during the hearing of a petition of an immigrant seeking bail on the grounds of being a citizen of India. The court deemed him an illegal immigrant and denied bail.

The decision turned on its head the common belief held by many Indians that having an Aadhaar, PAN, or voter ID made them citizens. While the court acknowledged that the documents were essential for their respective purposes, they were not enough to prove citizenship.

The Bench, led by Justice RV Ghuge, stated that the documents were insufficient grounds for proof as they were issued to anyone, irrespective of their citizenship status. The crucial distinction between a citizen and a non-citizen, the court argued, is the word "citizen" spelt out in the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Citizenship Act, 1955.

The court further added that the legislature knew the difference between the two categories of people and used the term 'citizen' only in those statutes, intending to provide a clear legal framework for citizenship.

This ruling marks an important step towards redefining what it means to be an Indian citizen and upholding the rights of bona fide citizens.

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