Citizenship by naturalization
Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 deals with citizenship by naturalization. Where an application is made in the prescribed manner by any person of full age and capacity [not being an illegal migrant] for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation to him, the Central Government may, if satisfied that the applicant is qualified for naturalisation under the provisions of the The Act came into force on 30 Dec 1955.
(1) Where an application is made in the prescribed manner by any person of full age and capacity 1[not being an illegal migrant] for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation to him, the Central Government may, if satisfied that the applicant is qualified for naturalisation under the provisions of the Third Schedule, grant to him a certificate of naturalisation:
Provided that, if in the opinion of the Central Government, the applicant is a person who has rendered distinguished service to the cause of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or human progress generally, it may waive all or any of the conditions specified in the Third Schedule.
(2) The person to whom a certificate of naturalisation is granted under sub-section (1) shall, on taking the oath of allegiance in the form specified in the Second Schedule, be a citizen of India by naturalisation as from the date on which that certificate is granted.
Section 6, The Citizenship Act, 1955 (Act 57 of 1955).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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K. Krishna M.A. Raihany v. Union of India & Ors.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
DATE VERIFIED Judgement 2007-05-16 (order-6.pdf) via get_order_ai_analysis — index and body agree. ASG's submission accepted: s.14 makes clear that no reasons need be assigned for grant or refusal of applications under ss.5 or 6. Limits judicial insistence on speaking orders for citizenship grant/refusal while preserving other lawful remedies against the disposal communication.
On this section: s.6(1) citizenship by naturalization — Government communication disposing of the application is the s.6 order; merits left open for other remedies.
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Lal Babu Hussein vs Electoral Registration Officer
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When determining citizenship for electoral roll purposes, the authority must follow quasi-judicial procedure with full disclosure of material basis for suspicion, reasonable opportunity for affected person to be heard and rebut evidence, independent application of mind by the officer, and issuance of speaking order with reasons. Previous inclusion in electoral roll creates presumption of regularity and adequate probative value must be attached to it. All evidence, documentary or otherwise, must be entertained and assessed on merits. Mass verification exercises based on undisclosed police reports without individual inquiry violate principles of natural justice and are invalid.
On this section: Citizenship by naturalisation
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 3 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 6
What have the courts held on Section 6 of the Citizenship Act?
K. Krishna M.A. Raihany v. Union of India & Ors. (16 May 2007) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.6(1) citizenship by naturalization — Government communication disposing of the application is the s.6 order; merits left open for other remedies. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below, all of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 1995 to 2007.
How do I find court cases under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Citizenship Act 1955 6, section 6 Citizenship Act 1955, section 6 of the Citizenship Act. People searching for it also type citizenship act 6a and citizenship act 1955 section 6. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with K. Krishna M.A. Raihany v. Union of India & Ors. (16 May 2007).
What should I read with Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, and has it changed?
2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 2: most recently Extension of delegation of power to Grant Citizenship to Seven States & 16 Districts (2018), then Delegation of power to 7 States (2016).
When did Section 6 of the Citizenship Act come into force?
Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, cited as Citizenship Act 1955 6, came into force on 30 Dec 1955, having been enacted on 30 Dec 1955. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 6A. Special provisions as to citizenship of persons covered by the Assam Accord990 words
- 18. Power to make rules681 words
- 5. Citizenship by registration638 words
- 10. Deprivation of citizenship554 words
- 4. Citizenship by descent523 words
- 2. Interpretation520 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.