Sun Sep 21 05:55:23 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
R. Bahison, born and raised in India to Sri Lankan refugee parents, faces statelessness despite possessing Indian identification documents. After applying to reissue his passport, he was labeled stateless due to a citizenship law amendment and subsequently arrested on charges related to forging documents. He is seeking citizenship by naturalization. The Madras High Court has issued a temporary order protecting him from being detained in a special camp while his case is being considered.
**News Article:**
**Chennai Man, Raised in India, Faces Statelessness Despite Possessing Valid Documents**
**CHENNAI, September 21, 2025** – R. Bahison, a resident of Chennai, has found himself in legal turmoil after being declared ‘stateless’ by local authorities despite holding an Indian passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, and ration card. Bahison, 34, was born in India to Sri Lankan parents who fled to the country during the ethnic conflict in 1991.
The issue arose after Bahison applied to reissue his passport following his marriage to a Sri Lankan national. An adverse police verification report cited a 1986 amendment to the Citizenship Act, which stipulates that individuals born in India after July 1, 1987, are only eligible for citizenship by birth if at least one parent is an Indian citizen. Bahison’s parents were Sri Lankan citizens at the time of his birth.
Subsequently, authorities labelled Bahison as stateless and initiated legal action against him, filing a First Information Report (FIR) on charges of cheating and forgery related to obtaining his passport. He was arrested and briefly held in judicial custody.
Bahison has filed a petition with the Madras High Court seeking citizenship by naturalization under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act of 1955. He argues that he has lived his entire life in India, received his education here, and has been employed in Chennai.
Justice M. Dhandapani of the Madras High Court has issued an interim order preventing the Central and State governments from taking any coercive action against Bahison, including lodging him in a special camp in Tiruchi, until October 8, 2025. The court has directed both governments to respond to Bahison’s citizenship application.
The case highlights the complexities faced by individuals born to refugee parents in India and raises questions about the application of citizenship laws in such circumstances. The next hearing is scheduled for October 8th.
First Piper 