Citizenship is not a right, a privilege given by government: Former Chief Justice of Sikkim

Slamming opposition and intellectuals over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), former Chief Justice of Sikkim Permod Kohli said that no person has the right to acquire citizenship, rather it is a privilege which is granted to the people by the Government.

New Delhi:Reacting strongly on the violence that broke out during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act in various parts of the country, former Chief Justice of Sikkim Permod Kohli said that a section of the society is being misled, misinformed to enter into such kind of protests which may or may not be anti-national but at least they are not in the interest of the society at large.

Explaining Article 14, which the opposition as well various intellectuals and common people are claiming to be getting violated due to this Act, Kohli said that if citizenship is being granted to more number of people, how is it going to affect the rights of the citizens? He denied that discrimination is being caused leading to violation of Article 14.

On Article 15 getting violated, Justice Kohli said, "No person has the right to acquire citizenship, but a privilege which is granted to the people by the Government."

He asked that unless there is a right to citizenship how can we talk about discrimination in granting citizenship? He said that a person entering illegally in the country can not claim citizenship.

Commenting on the ongoing protests Justice Kohli said that, "We should try to be a part of those who are misinformed, a person who knows that he is misinformed, may not carry forward the desired results." To support the law is something different but to keep the society peaceful, compatible we should come forward to educate the society to removed misinformation and take all other possible steps which may be in the interest of the society, said former CJ.