The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2024 is a fundamentally flawed legislation which clearly violates Art.14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. India recognizes in its utmost sacredness, the concept of equality which is placed on its highest pedestal of rights and proclaims under Art. 14 that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. This equal protection of the law” implies equality of treatment in equal circumstances. The impugned amendment, which can prima facia be identified as partisan in nature, has been passed despite of the straightforward prohibition of discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth under Art. 14. Hence, a preferential discriminatory treatment is given to those communities who are included in the amendment as contrasted with another non-citizen. A persecuted member of any other community who entered India post an arbitrarily fixed date is demarcated as an illegal migrant solely on the basis of religion and community. Hence, there is thus a blatant disregard for basic tenants of equality by openly favoring and bending stringent citizen rules to favour only certain communities.
The concept of secularism is one facet of the right to equality woven as the central golden thread in the fabric depicting the pattern of the scheme in the Constitution. It has acted as a balance between socio-economic reforms which limits religious options and communal developments.80. India has very recently celebrated its 75 years of Independence, and this milestone is marred by the fact that since its inception as an independent nation, this amendment act brazenly uses religion for the first time as a criterion for citizenship in a country sworn to secularism. The state does not owe loyalty to any religion as such; it is not irreligious or anti-religious; it gives equal freedom to all religious. Thus, the state is bound by its secularist principles to draft its policies and laws in a manner which does not create a sense of intentional oppression or prioritization of a community. The said act has also attracted criticisms internationally with the OHCHR labelling it as “fundamentally discriminatory”. India’s “goal of protecting persecuted groups should be accomplished through a non-discriminatory “robust national asylum system”.
We therefore invite you for a webinar on this contentious amendment Act to be held on 22nd March 2024 by C.K Chandrappan Centre for Social Justice via Google meet from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
Presidential Address: K P Rajendran, President, C.K Chandrappan Centre for Social Justice, Former Revenue Minister, Government of Kerala
Inuagration: K P Jayachandran, Additional Advocate General
Keynote Address: Dr. G Mohan Gopal, Former Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal.
About the organisation
C.K. Chandrappan (Cheerappanchirayil Kumarapanikar Chandrapan) , son of Com.C.K.Kumara Panickar a valient fighter of the Punnapra-Vayalar mass revolt, Com.C.K. Chandrappan was as a prominent leader of the communist movement in India. He was known as a passionate advocate for the youth and rose to become a member of the national council and the secretary of the Kerala state council of the Communist Party of India.He also had a successful political career, being elected to the Lok Sabha three times from Thalasseri (1971), Kannur (1977), and Thrissur (2004) Parliament Constituency. During his third term in the Lok Sabha, Com. Chandrappan played a pivotal role in drafting the Forest Act, which granted rights to forest dwellers on forest produce. In 1991, he was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Cherthala Constituency. Additionally, he held prominent positions such as Chairman of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation and ‘KERAFED’. For a significant period, he served as the Chairman & Managing Director of the Prabhath Book House.Chandraappan actively participated in the Goa Liberation Movement and led various student and youth movements.He won the award for the best Member of Parliament . He represented India in numerous international conferences organized by the United Nations, FAO, and others.
In memorance of him , the C K Chandrappan Centre for social justice was formed with the objective of ensuring constitutional literacy and promote social justice to people through various programs .Shri K P Rajendran is currently the president and Shri Safi Mohan , is the secretary of the organization.
| Register here at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKsE67CDIYFF8zllYDH0yHTfXp8I0MyOMeavSnlnbEjSkIHw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0 E-Certificate will be provided to all Participants |
Last Date for Registration: 20.03.2024
