In News:
The issue of ‘D’ (Doubtful) voters recently resurfaced in the Assam Legislative Assembly, with the Opposition demanding closure of the state’s lone detention centre (now termed a transit camp) and the tabling of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) report.

Who are ‘D’ Voters?
‘D’ voters are individuals whose Indian citizenship is under suspicion. Introduced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 1997 specifically for Assam, these individuals are barred from voting or contesting elections until their citizenship is verified.

Legal and Procedural Aspects:

• Not Defined in Law: The term 'Doubtful Voter' is not defined under the Citizenship Act, 1955 or the Citizenship Rules, 2003.
• As per Citizenship Rules, 2003:
  • The Local Registrar must mark individuals with doubtful citizenship in the National Population Register (NPR) for further verification.
  • Affected individuals must be informed through a prescribed format and granted a hearing before the Taluk or Sub-district Registrar.
  • A decision on citizenship status must be made within 90 days.
• Foreigners Tribunal (FT): Cases of D-voters are referred to FTs, which decide whether the person is an Indian citizen or a foreigner. Based on the verdict, individuals can be:
  • Cleared and subsequently included in the NRC and electoral rolls.
  • Declared foreigners, leading to deportation or detention.

Key Features of D-Voter Status:

• Temporary Tag: The 'D' classification is not permanent and must be resolved within a set timeframe.
• Appeal Mechanism: Individuals can appeal to the Foreigners Tribunal for clearance.
• Impact on Families: Often, some members of a family are citizens while others are tagged as D-voters, leading to legal and social complications.
• Detention Concerns: Several individuals, including potential Indian citizens, have been detained for years without a clear mechanism for release.

Recent Developments:

• Political demands in Assam include the closure of detention centres and transparency regarding NRC implementation.
• Debates continue over the legal ambiguity and humanitarian implications of the D-voter category.