The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Central government to consider the representation made by a Tamil repatriate from Sri Lanka seeking a direction to authorities to grant him and his family members Indian citizenship.
The court was hearing the petition filed by R. Thiyagavijayan, who is living in the Sri Lankan Tamils Rehabilitation Camp at Kottapattu in Tiruchi.
The petitioner said he was tagged as a Sri Lankan refugee. But, he was a repatriate from Sri Lanka, to be conferred Indian citizenship owing to the India–Sri Lanka Agreements of 1964 and 1974.
He said he was born in Sri Lanka to an Indian origin Tamil family. His forefathers had migrated from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka during the British era to work in tea plantations.
Based on a one-way passport with a valid Indian visa, he reached Rameswaram in 1983, and was received by the Indian officials. He produced all documents proving that he was a repatriate, he said.
His entry into India was legal and as part of the repatriation agreements. Treating him as a refugee and delaying citizenship was illegal, he added.
He said for four decades no steps were taken to issue him citizenship. Article 21 of the Constitution guaranteed the right to life and liberty. He was a de-facto Indian citizen, yet had suffered lifelong without free movement, property rights or opportunities for his children.
Justice P.T. Asha observed that the petitioner had submitted a representation in 2020 requesting grant of Indian citizenship on the ground that he and his family members were not refugees but repatriates who travelled from Sri Lanka to India to become Indian citizens.
Observing that his representation was yet to be considered by the authorities, the court directed the authorities to consider it and pass appropriate orders. With the direction, the court disposed of the petition.
Published – November 22, 2025 09:29 pm IST
