Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a ban on Karnataka’s Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) 2026. He has called it unconstitutional and a serious threat to national security.
New Delhi [भारत]July 10 (ANI): Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his immediate intervention against the Karnataka Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), 2026 notification. They have raised concerns over its constitutional validity and potential national security implications.
In his letter dated July 8, Karandlaje said the Karnataka government’s notification introducing permanent residence certificates raises “serious constitutional, legal and national security concerns” that need immediate investigation by the central government.
Constitutional and national security concerns
He said the Constitution of India provides for a single citizenship for all citizens and alleged that the introduction of Permanent Residence Certificate is an attempt to create a separate category of “permanent residents” without any constitutional or statutory rights. Karandlaje further claimed that this classification is arbitrary, has no logical connection with any legitimate constitutional purpose, and violates Article 14 of the Constitution.
The Union Minister also expressed concern over the eligibility criteria for the certificate. He said these criteria appear to be based primarily on local verification by residence and revenue authorities, without mandating verification of Indian citizenship through competent central authorities.
According to the letter, such a system could potentially allow illegal immigrants or foreign nationals living illegally in the state to obtain certificates through local documents or fraud. He claimed that this would give them access to state benefits, admission to educational institutions, employment opportunities and other rights, which are only available to eligible citizens.
He said matters related to citizenship, foreigners, immigration and internal security fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the central government under the Constitution. He further said that any state-level mechanism such as permanent residence status has the potential to interfere with these constitutional functions.
These demands were made to the Home Minister
Karandlaje requested Amit Shah to investigate the constitutional validity of the Karnataka Permanent Residence Certificate, 2026 and direct the state government to put on hold the implementation of the notification until such investigation is completed. He has also sought a detailed report from the Karnataka government on the constitutional and statutory authority under which this notification was issued.
Additionally, he requested that no permanent residence certificate should be issued without comprehensive verification of Indian citizenship through competent central agencies.
The Union Minister also urged the Home Minister to take any necessary steps to protect the constitutional framework, national security and the principle of equality guaranteed under the Constitution. Karandlaje called for immediate intervention, citing “far-reaching constitutional implications” and “serious concerns related to national security” arising from the notification. (ANI)
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