Pioneer News Service
Daltonganj
The claims of two Nepali women have come under scrutiny during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at a camp at Palamu Club in Daltonganj, with election officials seeking documents to establish their eligibility for Indian citizenship.
Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Amardeep Balhotra said the two claims were received at the camp on August 27. He said both women, who were born in Nepal, married men in Daltonganj after 1987 and have since been living in Jharkhand. One of their husbands is reportedly a Nepali national while the other is a local resident.
Balhotra said the women have produced marriage certificates, but the documents require thorough verification. Their claims are also being examined under applicable Election Commission and citizenship provisions.
He said that for persons born outside India, citizenship has to be established through applicable provisions of the Citizenship Act, including registration or naturalisation. The women have been given sufficient time to produce documents establishing their citizenship status.
According to officials, their parents continue to reside in Nepal and the women do not currently have documents relating to their parents’ birth or citizenship. Their claimed places and years of birth will also be verified.
Officials clarified that an Aadhaar card does not establish Indian citizenship. Project Officer Uday Pratap Singh said residency of 182 days in the preceding 12 months is required for Aadhaar enrolment, but the document is only proof of identity and residency.
Meanwhile, Palamu Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat has directed SIR teams to expedite scrutiny of complaints and claims received at the camps.
