Sought fifth extension till January 9 to frames rules under CAA: MHA

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 27

The government on Tuesday informed Lok Sabha that it has sought an extension till January 9 for framing rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed by Parliament in 2019.

Replying to a question by Congress member Gaurav Gogoi, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai said, “The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) has been notified on 12.12.2019 and has come into force w.e.f. 10.01.2020.”

“The Committees on Subordinate Legislation, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been requested to grant further extension of time up to 09.01.2022 to frame the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019,” the Minister said.

The CAA envisages according to Indian nationality and citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Those from these communities who had come to India till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

This is the fifth extension sought by the government for framing of these rules, it is learnt.

According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, the rules for any legislation should have been framed within six months of presidential assent or seek an extension.

Following the passage of the law in Parliament the country witnessed widespread protests leading to the deaths of nearly 100 people in police firing and related violence.