22 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
the Union, and every person naturalised in the union shall be a citizen of the Union.
Further provision regarding the acquisition and termination of Union citizenship may be made by the law of the Union.”
The reasons have already been given fully in the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee. I have nothing to add to it.
Sri K. Santhanam : Sir, I move that the following be added at the end of the first paragraph of this clause:
“Every person born or naturalised in India before the commencement of the Union and subject to its jurisdiction shall be a citizen of the Union.”
*Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Bombay : General) : Mr. President, Sir, I think there can be no doubt that the point raised by Mr. Santhanam is a point of great importance and we have to take this matter seriously. The difficulty that has arisen will be seen easily if one reads the very first sentence of the clause as drafted by the Committee. The draft says, “every person born in the Union”. Obviously that has reference to future, those who will be born in the Union after the Union is formed. The question is this. What is going to be the position of people who are born in India, but who are born before the Union has come into being ? In my judgment, in order to cover that case, we shall have to introduce another clause. I am not suggesting an amendment, I am putting forth an idea. The new clause shall have to be something like this :
“All persons born in India, as defined in the General Clauses Act and who are residing in the Union and subject to the jurisdiction of the Union shall be citizens of the Union.”
I think that a clause somewhat on these lines is necessary and it will cover the case of people who are born in India, who will be the subjects of the Union, when the Union comes into being. Without this clause, large numbers of people will be denationalised. They will have no nationality at all. I, therefore, suggest that it may be as well to send the whole clause back for further consideration.
Mr. President : A suggestion has been made that the whole clause be held over for further consideration.
Mr. R. K. Sidhwa : This is not a matter for lawyers only. This question has a bearing on every ordinary person.
Mr. President : The Advisory Committee will be free to consider it, and if it so feels, it can put forward any suggestions at the next sitting.
(Clause 3 was held over).