A fresh controversy erupted in West Bengal’s political circles after the Calcutta High Court rejected an election petition of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Alo Rani Sarkar on grounds that she held ‘dual citizenship’ and her name figured in Bangladesh’s electoral roll.
Justice Bibek Chaudhuri of the Calcutta High Court in his order on May 20 also directed a copy of the order to be sent to the Election Commission of India for taking necessary action “in respect of the petitioner’s status in this country as on this date”.
“In the instant case, the petitioner admitted that she acquired citizenship of Bangladesh mistakenly. However, the name of the petitioner still exists in the Electoral Roll of Bangladesh. I am in agreement with the learned advocate for the respondent that the principle of ‘Dual Citizenship’ is not applicable in India. Therefore, the petitioner cannot claim to be a citizen of India when her name appeared in the Electoral Roll of Bangladesh. The relevant date is the date of filing nomination paper by the petitioner. It is admitted from the documents filed by the petitioner that on the date of filing of the nomination paper by her, she was a Bangladeshi national,” Justice Chauduri said.
