THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A P Shah raised sharp concerns over a recent legal interpretation that an Indian passport is not conclusive proof of citizenship.
Speaking at the lecture series organised by the Goa High Court Bar Association last weekend, Shah questioned the logic of such a position while noting that the issuance of a passport involves rigorous verification by the State.
“If, after such scrutiny, the State now says a passport is not conclusive proof of citizenship, what does that imply? Does the State not have faith in its own verification process?” Shah asked.
The retired judge said the issue touches on administrative consistency and public confidence in official documents. He also stressed that interpretations by courts affecting citizenship must be approached with clarity, given their far-reaching implications for governance and individual rights.
Earlier in the lecture, Shah had stirred debate by criticising the reference to activist Umar Khalid as a “terrorist.”
He described Khalid as a “political dissenter,” a remark that resonated in Goa where police are probing an FIR after protesters displayed “Free Umar Khalid” placards at gatherings in Mapusa and Panaji linked to the nationwide CJP student protests.
Shah’s comments drew attention in both the legal fraternity and civil society, in the context of the conflict between State narratives and dissenting voices.
