Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:41pm on 25 Jun 2026,Thursday India
Senior advocate Harish Salve has supported the Ministry of External Affairs’ clarification that a passport is a travel document and not conclusive proof of Indian citizenship, describing the government’s position as legally correct. Speaking amid the ongoing debate, Salve said citizenship is determined by law and not by possession of a passport. Referring to Section 20 of the Passports Act, 1967, he noted that passports can be issued in specific circumstances even to non-citizens, which does not automatically confer citizenship. He stressed that citizenship is governed by legal provisions and that passports remain valid proof for practical purposes unless legally challenged. He also dismissed concerns about international credibility. (PC: X)
