MARGAO
Hazard a guess why the district Collectors have still not initiated the process to invite claims and objections over Portuguese nationality
till date?
Reason: While the November 22, 2016 order authorises the district Collectors to invite applications and objections from the citizens on the Portuguese nationality after due publicity, the file pertaining to the issuance of the notice has still not come back to the Collectors from the Law
department.
In fact, it's now eight months since th
e State government had notified the order of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, empowering the district Collectors to probe into issues of dual citizenship and report back to the Centre with recommendations.
When The Goan asked outgoing South Goa District Collector, Swapnil Naik to shed light on the issue, he said that his office had forwarded a notice to the Law department for vetting, but the file has still not come back till date. "Unless, the file containing the notice is vetted by the Law department, no further progress could be made for the simple reason that we have to publicise the notice inviting applications and objections from the public," Swapnil said.
Incidentally, the office of the South Goa District Collector is already in receipt of around six objections even before the publication of the notice inviting claims and objections. The outgoing district Collector said all the six applications pending before my office pertains to objections to someone's name finding a place on the electoral roll despite being a Portuguese citizen. "All the six applications object to the inclusion of names of the electoral roll on grounds they are Portuguese nationals. These applications will be processed only after a notice is published inviting
the claims and objections," Swapnil said.
While the Union Home Ministry's order stated that the Collectors will conduct the inquiry in a free and transparent manner, keeping in mind the provisions containing the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship Rules, 2009. The order mandates the district Collectors to make necessary recommendations to the Centre case by case.
The dual citizenship issue had been occupying the minds of the Goans ever since the Competent Authority in the Union Home Ministry passed an order stating that former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva is a Portuguese citizen following a petition filed by John Fernandes, a resident of Navangully-Varca.
However, the Competent Authority in the Union Home Ministry later passed an order stating that Caitu is a citizen of India after the Authority heard afresh the petition filed by John Fernandes following a direction issued by the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court.
When The Goan asked outgoing South Goa District Collector, Swapnil Naik to shed light on the issue, he said that his office had forwarded a notice to the Law department for vetting, but the file has still not come back till date. "Unless, the file containing the notice is vetted by the Law department, no further progress could be made for the simple reason that we have to publicise the notice inviting applications and objections from the public," Swapnil said.
Incidentally, the office of the South Goa District Collector is already in receipt of around six objections even before the publication of the notice inviting claims and objections. The outgoing district Collector said all the six applications pending before my office pertains to objections to someone's name finding a place on the electoral roll despite being a Portuguese citizen. "All the six applications object to the inclusion of names of the electoral roll on grounds they are Portuguese nationals. These applications will be processed only after a notice is published inviting
the claims and objections," Swapnil said.
While the Union Home Ministry's order stated that the Collectors will conduct the inquiry in a free and transparent manner, keeping in mind the provisions containing the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship Rules, 2009. The order mandates the district Collectors to make necessary recommendations to the Centre case by case.
The dual citizenship issue had been occupying the minds of the Goans ever since the Competent Authority in the Union Home Ministry passed an order stating that former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva is a Portuguese citizen following a petition filed by John Fernandes, a resident of Navangully-Varca.
However, the Competent Authority in the Union Home Ministry later passed an order stating that Caitu is a citizen of India after the Authority heard afresh the petition filed by John Fernandes following a direction issued by the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court.
