Gauhati High Court Dismisses PIL Against Citizenship Act’s Section 6A

The Gauhati High Court on Friday dismissed a PIL challenging Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, deeming it redundant after the Supreme Court recently upheld its validity. Section 6A governs citizenship for Bangladesh migrants entering Assam before March 25, 1971, granting it to those arriving before 1966 and setting conditions for those between 1966 and 1971. The Supreme Court affirmed its constitutionality but noted poor enforcement and inadequate mechanisms to curb illegal immigration post-1971, directing stricter implementation. The High Court, led by Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi, found the PILs (No. PIL/34/2010 and PIL/77/2010) infructuous and dismissed them, rejecting claims that Section 6A incentivizes migration or harms Assamese culture.