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Home The Constitution Part II Article 7
Art. 7 Part II: Citizenship

Rights of Citizenship of Certain Migrants to Pakistan

Exact text — Constitution of India

Notwithstanding anything in articles 5 and 6, a person who has after the first day of March, 1947, migrated from the territory of India to the territory now included in Pakistan shall not be deemed to be a citizen of India: Provided that nothing in this article shall apply to a person who, after having so migrated to the territory now included in Pakistan, has returned to the territory of India under a permit for resettlement or permanent return issued by or under the authority of any law...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

The mirror image of Article 6 — this Article addressed people who moved FROM India TO what became Pakistan after 1 March 1947. As a general rule, such persons ceased to be considered Indian citizens, with one specific exception: those who later returned to India under an official resettlement/permanent-return permit could still regain that status.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

Like Article 6, this is now primarily of historical and legal-record significance, addressing citizenship status for a specific category of Partition-era migration, with the narrow 'return permit' exception showing the framers tried to build in some flexibility for genuine returnees.

Related Articles

Read alongside this one

Art. 6 — Rights of Citizenship of Certain Persons Who Migrated From Pakistan
Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 7

What was a 'resettlement permit' under this Article?
An official document issued under Indian law at the time, allowing a person who had migrated to Pakistan after March 1947 to return to India permanently and regain the possibility of Indian citizenship — a specific bureaucratic mechanism from that transitional period.
← PreviousArticle 6: Rights of Citizenship of Certain Persons Who Migrated From PakistanNext →Article 8: Rights of Citizenship of Certain Persons of Indian Origin Residing Outside India

The text above reproduces Article 7 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.