#burden of proof citizenship

The Gauhati High Court has ruled that citizenship claims under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 cannot be sustained by vague written statements or documents lacking contemporaneity and proper authentication. This sets a strict evidentiary standard for individuals before Foreigners Tribunals, reinforcing that mere possession of old papers is insufficient without verifiable, time-bound proof of presence in India before 1971.

Gauhati HC rules that under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, the burden of proof lies solely on the proceedee to establish citizenship. The court set aside the declaration of the petitioner's family members as foreigners, emphasizing that each individual must be separately referenced and given an opportunity to prove their citizenship, reinforcing principles of natural justice.