BJP to Legally Challenge Karnataka Decision to Issue Permanent Residence Certificates

On Saturday, Karnataka State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra announced that the party will legally challenge the state government's decision to issue Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bengaluru and across the state. Vijayendra alleged that the move is a devious strategy to protect illegal immigrants and consolidate a vote-bank, a claim that Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara dismissed.

Vijayendra argued that the power and authority to prepare the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or issue PRCs vests solely with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs after establishing whether a person is a bona fide citizen. He accused the Congress-led state government of working at cross-purposes with the Union government and displaying double standards on the issue. He stated he would shortly convene a meeting of the BJP's legal team to discuss challenging the move.

Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara rejected the allegations, clarifying that the state government does not have the power to grant citizenship, nor can a PRC be equated with a citizenship document. He stated that the Revenue Department is the competent issuing authority for PRCs and that the state would thoroughly verify necessary documents before issuing them.

"The question of Bangladeshis does not arise here. Citizenship is a national issue. Can a State government grant citizenship to Bangladeshi nationals?" Parameshwara said. He added that the state government already issues documents like caste certificates and accused the BJP of trying to politicise the issue.

A Permanent Residence Certificate is a state-issued document that certifies a person's long-term association with the state, with the Tahsildar acting as the competent authority. Unlike a regular Residence Certificate, which can be obtained using basic address proofs like Aadhaar or rental agreements, a PRC requires more stringent proof.

To obtain a PRC, applicants must establish a long-standing link with Karnataka through records showing they have lived in the state for several years, studied in Karnataka for more than six years, own property, or have parents residing in the state. The certificate does not determine or grant citizenship, which remains under the sole jurisdiction of the Union government.