Supreme Court to Examine Scope of Citizenship Law for India-Born Children of Foreign Nationals
Background of the Case The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine a significant question concerning the interpretation of India’s citizenship law: whether children born in India to foreign nationals can be granted citizenship through a liberal interpretation of statutory provisions , particularly where denial would result in statelessness. The issue arose from a petition filed by Rachita Francis Xavier , an 18-year-old woman born and raised in Andhra Pradesh , whose parents were United States citizens at the time of her birth but were Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders residing lawfully in India. A Bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan issued notice to the Union Government on January 8 , and the matter is listed for further hearing on January 30 . Factual Matrix Rachita Francis Xavier was born in 2006 in Andhra Pradesh. Her parents were originally Indian citizens but later acquired US citizenship —her father in 2001 and her mother in 2005...