News, Views and Information about NRIs.

A NRI Sabha of Canada's trusted source of News & Views for NRIs around the World.



April 9, 2013

Avtar Henry’s citizenship issue: Notice issued to Centre on PIL

Chandigarh, April 8
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice to the Union Home Ministry on a PIL filed by Jalandhar-based RTI activist Ajay Seghal for becoming party to the revision petition filed by former minister Avtar Henry against the termination of his Indian citizenship. Sehgal had brought Avtar Henry’s citizenship issue under the judicial scanner.

Taking up the matter, Justice RN Raina issued a notice to Union Home Secretary and to Avtar Henry for April 23.

Directing Jalandhar Commissioner of Police to examine the complaint against Punjab's former minister regarding his citizenship, the High Court in December last year had made it clear that an FIR would have to be registered in case the allegations were prima facie found to be true.

The Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain had directed the Commissioner to examine the complaint dated September 27, 2012, filed by Sehgal and to order registration of an FIR against him, if a prima facie case was found to have been made out, within two months.

Sehgal, through advocate HC Arora, had stated that Avtar Henry acquired the British citizenship in 1969 under the name of Avtar Singh. He came to India on the British passport the same year and obtained an Indian passport, which was renewed from time to time. He also registered himself as a voter in the Jalandhar (North) constituency and contested the elections in 1986, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012.

No comments:

Post a Comment