A magistrate court in Mumbai passed a judgement stating that original election cards can be deemed as a proof of citizenship this week while acquitting a Mankhurd couple arrested in 2017 on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals living in India.
The Mumbai court stated that the following documents can establish the origin of any person. It can be a birth certificate, a domicile certificate, a bonafide certificate and a passport.
The court states, “Even the election card can be said to be sufficient proof of citizenship as while applying for the election card or a voting card, a person has to file a declaration with the authority in view of Form 6 of Peoples Representation Act to the authority that he is a citizen of India and if the declaration is found false, he is liable for punishment,”d.
The Mumbai court further said the documents submitted by the accused, Abbas Shaikh (45) and Rabiya Shaikh (40), were not rebutted by the prosecution or proven to be fake.
“It is necessary to mention that the person may lie but the documents will never,” the court reiterates.
The Mumbai court also stated the following documents Aadhar card, PAN card, driving licence or ration card cannot be termed as the documents proving citizenship as they are not meant for the purpose.
