Team Herald
PANJIM: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended by two more years its November 2016 order directing both District Collectors to conduct a detailed inquiry into the issue of dual citizenship held by Goan residents, and to make appropriate recommendations to the Government of India.
The order was last extended by two years in July 2022. The order notified on October 15 and issued by the MHA Joint Secretary Prashant Lokhande on October 14, 2024 under Section 16 of the Citizenship Act has directed the District Collectors to inquire into the issue of acquisition of citizenship of another country by residents of the State and make appropriate recommendations to the Union government through the State government.
The District Collectors will have to invite application and objections from citizens after due publicity and conduct the inquiry in fair and transparent manner in accordance with the provisions contained in the Act and the Citizenship Rules. After inquiry, the District Collector will have to make recommendations to the Government of India through the State government giving details of each case.
The order shall remain in force for a period of two more years from October 14, 2024, the date of publication of the notification by MHA, New Delhi.