Citizenship Bill aims to simplify citizenship in the mother's name: Home Minister Lekhak

Key Points

• Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said the Citizenship Bill aims to recognize mothers as primary caregivers with the right to declare and assume responsibility for their child.
• The Bill ensures mothers can pass citizenship to their child if the father's details cannot be presented, with legal inquiry and penalties for false declarations.
• The Bill proposes simplifying procedures for obtaining citizenship in the mother's name, especially if the father is deceased, uncooperative, or remarried.
• The Bill aligns with the Supreme Court's directives concerning citizenship issuance in the mother's name.
• Regarding naturalized citizenship, the Bill requires the mother to declare that the child has not acquired foreign citizenship through the father, expanding upon the current law.