New Delhi: Millat-e-Islamia Assam and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind succeeded in getting a historical victory when the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that certificates issued by panchayat secretary or an executive magistrate can be used for claiming citizenship. This has relieved 27 lakh women of Assam.
Setting aside the order of the Gauhati high court by which it had invalidated certificates issued by gram panchayat secretary for claiming citizenship, a bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R.F. Nariman held that the certificate of residency issued by gram panchayat (village council) secretary is a legal and valid document for a claim to citizenship, if it has been issued after conducting proper enquiries and has have details of family linkages.
About 48 lakh claims have been made using certificates issued by gram panchayat secretaries.
President Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Maulana Syed Arshad Madani hailed the court verdict.
Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind general Secretary Maulana Syed Mahmood Madani and Jamiat Ulama Assam president and member of Parliament Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal Qasmi termed the verdict and historical and claimed it as victory of justice.