What is the meaning of single citizenship

Article shared by Pragati Ghosh

The Constitution of India has established a single and uniform citizenship for the whole of the country. In a federal State like the United States of America there is dual citizenship.

A citizen in a federal State owes firstly allegiance to the Unit and secondly to the union there are two sets of Government in a federal polity and thus it follow dual citizenship. But in case of India though it is a Federal State there is single citizenship.

It implies that all Indian citizens owe allegiance to the Indian Union. Any citizen, irrespective of his birth or residence, is entitled to enjoy civil and political rights throughout India in all States and Union Territories.

The Indian Constitution does not recognize State citizenship and as such there is no distinction between the citizens of two or more States.

Further, there is an exception to this rule when applied to Kashmir. No one other than a permanent resident of Kashmir can acquire landed property in Kashmir; but it is a purely temporary provision to be abolished when Kashmir is fully integrated to the Indian Union. The claim of Fundamental Rights is common to all citizens.

Article 15 of the Constitution provides that the State should not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. Single citizenship is a great step forward in the creation of a united and integrated India. According to M. V. Pylee, “the provision of single citizenship is a great step forward in the creation of an integrated Indian society.

As a result, the citizens of India are clothed with common civil and political rights all over the country………. A single citizenship for the entire country removes much of the artificial State barriers that prevailed in pre- independence days and facilitates the freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse throughout the territory of India”.