Overview
- The Court held that citizenship must be conferred before any entry on electoral rolls for applicants relying on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
- The bench issued notice to the Union of India through the Attorney General and directed the petitioner to serve the Solicitor General.
- The justices declined a request to order disposal of pending naturalisation applications by February 2026.
- Judges stressed case-by-case verification under statutory criteria, while counsel for the Election Commission said the EC does not decide citizenship.
- The petition by NGO Aatmadeep raised concerns that delays and non-recognition of acknowledgement receipts during West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision risk disenfranchising eligible applicants.