Why it is in news?

•  Supreme Court clarifies on citizenship
• Certificates issued by the ‘gaon’ or village panchayat secretary/Executive Magistrate is no proof of Indian citizenship.
• It is only a supporting document used for the limited purpose of establishing a linkage between the holder of the certificate and the person(s) from whom legacy is being claimed, the Supreme Court has clarified.
• The certificate merely acknowledged the shifting of residence of a married woman from one village to another
• The certificate by itself by no means establishes any claim of citizenship of the holder of the certificate.

Two verification

• Such proof (of citizenship) will come only if the link between the claimant and the legacy person (who has to be a citizen) is established.
• The certificate has to be verified at two stages.
• The first is the authenticity of the certificate itself; and
• the second is the authenticity of the contents thereo.
• The process of verification was bound to be an exhaustive process in the course of which the source of information of the facts and other details recorded in the certificate would be ascertained after giving an opportunity to the holder of the certificate.