The issue of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) has long been a sensitive and controversial topic between India and Pakistan. There has been a dispute and conflict between the two countries over POK for decades. According to the Indian Constitution, Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes POK, is an integral part of India.
However, at present POK is occupied by Pakistan. Now the question arises whether the people of POK can join India and if yes, then what does Indian law say for this?
Understand it constitutionally
According to Article 1 of the Indian Constitution, India is a union in which states and union territories are mentioned. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Indian Union and the Indian Parliament has also expressed its clear position on this many times.
Now understand it like this that in the view of the Government of India and the Indian Constitution, the entire Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes POK, is a part of India. Therefore, whenever India will have control over POK, the people of POK will automatically become Indian citizens.
Actually, the Indian Parliament unanimously passed a resolution in 1994, which said that the part of Kashmir (POK) under the occupation of Pakistan is a part of India and efforts should be made to get it back.
Understand Indian Citizenship as per Law
According to the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, you can acquire Indian citizenship by birth, on hereditary basis and through registration. According to the Indian Constitution, the people of PoK are already considered citizens of India, because the Indian Constitution considers all residents of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, including PoK, as Indian citizens.
The current government also believes this
The decision of the Modi government to repeal Article 370 and end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 also took an important step in this direction. At that time the government had clearly stated that PoK is also a part of the same process and every possible diplomatic and legal effort will be made to bring it back.
Also read: The police of this state is most infamous in the case of fake encounters, how did this stigma come about?