The concept of enemy alien began to intrigue me ever since I attempted to write this article. Therefore, I tried to find its basis in our Constituent Assembly Debates (link introduced on the left), but drew a blank after reading the debate for draft Article 15A on September 16, 1949. One Member,Mahavir Tyagi referred to it, but said it was agreed. Originalism appears to be of no help to know why Article 22(3)(a)was inserted in the Constitution.
Enemy Alien under the Indian Constitution
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Venkatesan, the purpose of the clause must have been to detain without trial aliens with whose country of nationality India is at war, during the pendency of such war. Clearly, as soon as the war is over, the alien stops being an ‘enemy’ alien. As you rightly point out, Kasab is not an enemy alien.
On a related matter, has the constitutionality of several bar council resolutions demanding non-representation of kasab (or anyone else) been challenged in any high court? i strongly feel that they will be struck down as unconstitutional and illegal.
Sir,
Article 4 of Geneva Convention on Protection of Civilian Persons in time of war may throw more light on the understanding of the term ‘enemy alien’ as referred in our Constitution. In brief, an enemy alien is a person who finds himself in the hands of a country, which is in the outset or in the state of war with his country and includes his refugee.
My blog on this subject at
http://marchoflaw.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post.html
It’s not available in English
Sir/s
I am Senior Canadian Citizen of Indian origin. I inherited property in Kolkata, India after my father's death.
One gentleman has bought a part of our ancestral property from my siblings and is now trying all means to throw me out. He even has gone to the extent of filing false cases and breaking down my property in my absence from India. I am being made to run from Canada to India to save my property from forcible take over.
I have been reading in CPC article 83 about Alien enemies and alien friends. Now to file any civil suit against any Alien, does this gentleman need Central Government permission? What is the procedure?
In Kolkata no one is able to interpret the law correctly. Sad enough.
I am not a resident of India. I am a tourist holding OCI card.
Can any learned counsel please help me understand if any relief I can claim under the Indian law? if so how?
Sincerely,
Amitava Basu