Nanikraz Khanoomal Mukhi, who had a sonography clinic in Pakistan’s Hyderabad, chose to move to India in 2009 for his children’s education and to escape possible religious persecution.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A doctor from Pakistan, “stateless” for the past four years, has been registered as an Indian citizen, the Gujarat High Court was informed on Thursday (August 7, 2025).
Nanikraz Khanoomal Mukhi (53), who had a sonography clinic in Pakistan’s Hyderabad, chose to move to India in 2009 for his children’s education and to escape possible religious persecution.
Dr. Mukhi was registered as an Indian on August 5 under Section 5 (1) (A) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 by the office of District Magistrate, Ahmedabad.
The Section prescribes citizenship to a person of Indian origin who is ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making an application for registration and is not an illegal migrant.
The Hindu reported about Dr. Mukhi’s case on July 19.
Dr. Mukhi had been running from pillar to post to get registered as an Indian since 2021, when he renounced his Pakistani passport after receiving a letter from the Ahmedabad Collector’s office that the application has been processed and he would receive the citizenship soon. He applied for citizenship in 2016.
Clinic sealed
As his application remained stuck in red tape, his clinic in Ahmedabad was sealed by the health officials as he was not an Indian citizen. Dr. Mukhi moved the Gujarat High Court against the Union of India and the State of Gujarat on April 30. After the Union government’s counsel informed the court on Thursday that Dr. Mukhi has been granted citizenship, he decided to withdraw the petition.
“As an Indian I will get legal rights and the right to practice as a medical doctor now. I can apply for a voter card and a passport. I did not have any rights for the past four years. I had no nationality so far. It is a huge relief,” Dr. Mukhi told The Hindu.
He added that he would apply for a medical licence with the Gujarat Medical Council soon.
Dr. Mukhi’s wife, who had applied for citizenship with him, has been granted the naturalisation certificate. His three children acquired citizenship after they registered under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which became effective on March 11, 2024.
Citizenship is a subject under the Union List and is decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The MHA has delegated powers to district magistrates/collectors of 31 districts in nine States, including Gujarat, to grant citizenship to legal migrants (who entered on passport/visa) from the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan under Section 5 (by registration) and Section 6 (naturalisation) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Published – August 07, 2025 09:19 pm IST
