The Court requests that the Centre review the citizenship application of a Sri Lankan Tamil of Indian origin

• Sri Lankan refugee Mathine Mathine, born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1975, moved to India in 1984.

• She and her family entered India with her father’s Sri Lankan identity certificate.

• Mathine’s parents were Indian-origin Tamils denied citizenship in Sri Lanka and lived as stateless persons.

• In 2022, Mathine applied for Indian citizenship under Section 5(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act.

• An inquiry was conducted and the application was received by the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• Mathine’s parents were housed in refugee camps in Colombo, treated as Indians, and not given Sri Lankan citizenship.

• She has been living peacefully in India for 40 years and has complied with the conditions under Section 5(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act.