Chennamaneni Ramesh to HC: Centre order invalid

Hyderabad: TRS Vemulawada MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh told the Telangana High Court on Thursday that the order issued by the Centre ceasing his citizenship was invalid from the beginning.

He contended that the order should have been issued by the secretary, border management, of the Union home ministry who was the competent authority, and he should sign the order copy. In his case, the order copy was signed by the undersecretary of the government of India.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was hearing the petition filed by Ramesh, who challenged the cessation of his citizenship by the Centre, based on a complaint of Adi Srinivas, a politicain from Vemulavada. It was alleged that Ramesh had acquired Indian citizenship by false submissions about his stay in India.

Vedula Venkataramana, senior counsel, appearing for Ramesh, told the High Court that earlier orders in 2019 had directed that the competent authority should personally hear the case.

The hearing was conducted by the secretary, border management, whereas orders were issued by the undersecretary of the Union government, which is  aviolation of High Court orders he said.

Venkataramana said that the High Court had directed the competent authority to consider whether by Ramesh`s conduct and continuation of his Indian citizenship was not conducive of the public good. But, the Centre had gone into the issue of how he acquired the citizenship and had concluded that Ramesh had submitted false statements about his stay in India, senior counsel said.

At this point, Justice Vijaysen Reddy inquired from counsels of both sides as to whether the competent authority was quasi-judicial and whether the lawyers were allowed or not at the personal hearing. Counsels submitted only personal hearing was conducted.

V. Ravi Kiran Rao, senior counsel, appearing for Adi Srinivas, said that it was unfortunate that Vemulawada was being representing by a German citizen. “It is a clear violation of the Constitution,” he said.

Ramesh had himself admitted that he still had the passport of Germany and he had the Indian Origin Citizen card. “He is still traveling on this OCI card. But, he is arguing that he acquired Indian citizenship,” Ravi Kiran Rao said. The case was adjourned to January 30.