Born in India to Sri Lankan Parents, Man Declared Stateless Appeals to Madras High Court

Quick Summary

• R. Bahison, born in Chennai to Sri Lankan parents in 1991, has been labelled “stateless” by authorities despite holding several Indian identity documents (passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, ration card, voter ID).
• His parents fled Sri Lanka during the ethnic conflict in 1991 and were initially placed in refugee camps before being monitored under a special certificate for registration of Sri Lankan Tamils.
• Bahison pursued his education and career in India and applied for naturalisation after discovering he was not entitled to Indian citizenship by birth due to the 1986 citizenship Act amendment requiring at least one parent to be an Indian citizen.
• A police verification report triggered legal troubles; he was charged with falsifying documents under various provisions from the Passports Act and bharatiya nyaya Sanhita.
• Authorities registered an FIR against him; he was arrested on August 21, 2025 but granted bail on September 4 on condition of daily reporting to police.
• The madras High Court issued an interim order preventing coercive actions (including lodging him in a special camp) till October 8, 2025.His plea seeking naturalised citizenship remains under consideration.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The case highlights meaningful challenges within India’s framework for handling stateless individuals arising from ancient migration conflicts. While Bahison’s prolonged engagement with India’s educational system and professional space underscores his integration into society, his predicament stems from rigid interpretations of amendments like those made in the Citizenship Act (1986). Striking a balance between procedural necessity and humanitarian considerations becomes critical as authorities deliberate over such cases. If mishandled or overly delayed, it risks setting troubling precedents about inclusion policies toward long-term migrants or refugees who have assimilated into society over decades.

Further attention may also need to be directed toward refining processes around birthright claims affected by retroactive legislative changes. The issue points toward broader gaps concerning stateless populations globally-India’s resolution here could possibly serve as a guidepost for similar cases elsewhere.

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