West Bengal issues 23,000 CAA certificates; 2.3 lakh applications pending

West Bengal has issued 23,000 certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as of the latest official count, according to state government data. The figures underscore the ongoing implementation of the contentious citizenship law across the state.

According to official statements, the state has received a total of 2.3 lakh applications under the CAA framework. Of these, approximately 2.07 lakh applications remain pending with the West Bengal government, indicating a significant backlog in processing.

The CAA, which was passed by Parliament in December 2019, allows fast-tracked citizenship for persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The law has been a subject of considerable debate since its enactment, with supporters arguing it provides sanctuary to religious minorities while critics have raised concerns about its constitutional validity and potential implications.

The processing of CAA applications involves verification of documents and eligibility criteria, a time-intensive procedure that has contributed to the substantial number of pending cases. State authorities have not provided specific timelines for clearing the application backlog.

The figures from West Bengal represent a portion of the nationwide CAA implementation, which has progressed at varying speeds across different states since the rules were notified in 2021.