In Union of India v. Pranav Srinivasan (2024 INSC 792), the Supreme Court ruled that Pranav Srinivasan, a foreign national born in Singapore to Indian-origin parents, could not claim Indian citizenship under Article 8 of the Constitution or Section 8(2) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Pranav sought to resume his Indian citizenship based on his grandparents’ birth in India and his parents’ renunciation of Indian citizenship after acquiring Singaporean nationality. The Court held that Article 8 applies only to persons of Indian origin residing abroad at the time of the Constitution’s commencement, and Section 8(2) requires valid renunciation of citizenship, which was not met in Pranav’s case. It emphasized that Indian citizenship laws must be interpreted strictly, and such citizenship cannot be granted based on a liberal approach. However, the Court allowed Pranav to apply for citizenship under Section 5(1)(f) of the Act, which requires foreign nationals to fulfill specific residency conditions.
