Discrimination or humanitarianism? A moral assessment of the citizenship amendment Act 2019
Author(s): Daniel Michal Khan
Abstract: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 has ignited widespread ethical and political debate, with supporters framing it as a humanitarian gesture toward persecuted minorities and critics denouncing it as a discriminatory law that undermines the secular fabric of the Indian Constitution. This paper offers a moral assessment of the CAA by analyzing its selective inclusion of non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Using ethical frameworks such as utilitarian welfare and human rights principles, the study interrogates whether the Act’s religious criteria for citizenship align with moral principles of equality, justice, and universal human dignity. It explores the tension between state sovereignty in defining citizenship and the moral imperative to protect vulnerable populations without discrimination. The article concludes that, while the CAA appears humanitarian on the surface, its exclusive nature raises serious moral difficulties that call into question India's constitutional commitment to secularism and equality.
Daniel Michal Khan. Discrimination or humanitarianism? A moral assessment of the citizenship amendment Act 2019. Int J Political Sci Governance 2025;7(5):44-47. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i5a.524
