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BJP petitions Guv for PRC withdrawal, cites security concerns

The BJP asked Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to scrap the PRC notification, arguing it encroaches on the Centre's powers and could aid illegal immigrants.

PTI

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The BJP delegation that met the Governor included Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and MLC C T Ravi, among others (ANI)

Bengaluru, 15 July

Karnataka BJP on Wednesday petitioned Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, requesting the immediate withdrawal of the government notification on PRCs and seeking appropriate constitutional intervention in the matter.

The party said the notification had the potential to adversely affect the state's interests, the principles of India's federal structure and national security.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar recently announced that the state government would issue permanent residence certificates to help eligible citizens complete the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls currently underway in the state.

Subsequently, the state Revenue Department issued guidelines for issuing PRCs, stating that they would serve as proof of permanent residence in Karnataka.

Citizens can apply for PRCs both online and offline.

"The notification issued by the Government of Karnataka on June 26, 2026, regarding the issuance of a Permanent Residence Certificate has the potential to seriously impact the interests of the state, the principles of federalism, and national security. We, therefore, respectfully request you, as the guardian of the Constitution, to immediately intervene in this matter and issue appropriate directions," the BJP said in its petition to the governor.

The BJP delegation that met the governor comprised Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, MLCs N Ravi Kumar and C T Ravi, among others.

The BJP said matters relating to the identification of foreigners, citizenship, entry of foreigners into India and immigration fall exclusively under the Union government's legislative and executive powers under the Union List of the Constitution. It is therefore argued that the state government had neither the constitutional nor the legal authority to create a new category of "Permanent Resident".

Such an action had the potential to undermine the basic principles of the federal structure, it said.

The opposition party said the issuance of the notification at a highly sensitive time, when the Election Commission is conducting the SIR of electoral rolls, had raised serious concerns.

It alleged that there was a significant risk that the new system could be misused, enabling illegal immigrants—particularly those who had entered India unlawfully from neighbouring countries without proper documentation—to obtain PRCs with relative ease.

This could subsequently allow them to falsely claim Indian citizenship and unlawfully secure voting rights and access to government welfare benefits, it added.

The BJP said that entrusting the entire responsibility of issuing these certificates to Revenue Department officials raised serious concerns about the possibility of widespread corruption and the creation of fraudulent documents.

It noted that allegations had already emerged in certain cases that birth certificates had been obtained through courts and Lok Adalats under questionable circumstances.

These allegations warranted a comprehensive investigation at the highest level, it added.

Pointing out that under the rules governing the 2002 SIR, citizens born after 1987 are already required to establish their eligibility by submitting the necessary documents and confirming that the names of their parents or ancestors appear in the 2002 electoral rolls, the BJP said this existing mechanism was secure, transparent and well established.

"In light of this, there appears to be no justifiable necessity for introducing a new PRC system that is likely to create confusion and anxiety among the citizens of the state," it said.

The BJP delegation requested the governor to seek a detailed report on whether the state government had consulted the union government before issuing the notification and to ascertain the procedures followed to verify Indian citizenship before granting PRCs.

It requested the governor to direct the state government to immediately withdraw the controversial notification in the interest of maintaining peace, public order and security in the state.

The delegation appealed to him to direct the competent investigating authorities to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the authenticity of birth certificates issued through courts and Lok Adalats after the commencement of the recent SIR process.

"We have complete faith in your constitutional responsibility to uphold the values of the Constitution and protect the rights of citizens. We therefore earnestly request that this matter be treated as one of utmost urgency and that appropriate action be taken at the earliest," the BJP leaders said.

Last week, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his immediate intervention against the Karnataka PRC, 2026, on constitutional and national security grounds.