W.P.(C) No. 000068 / 2016
Under Article 11 of the Constitution, Parliament possesses plenary power to regulate all matters relating to citizenship, including the grant of citizenship to migrants through legislation that prescribes cut-off dates different from those in Articles 6 and 7, which operate only as transitional provisions applicable at the commencement of the Constitution. A special provision granting citizenship to a geographically distinct class of migrants does not violate Article 14 where a legitimate legislative objective — such as implementing a political accord addressing a unique demographic situation — forms the rational basis for differential treatment. This analysis is brought to you by casestatus.in, covering landmark constitutional determinations on citizenship and legislative competence under Indian law.