Guwahati: Convenor of the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) and prominent tribal leader, Tseten Tashi, today underscored the historical importance of the citizenship transition that occurred in 1975 for the people of Sikkim.
Issuing a public statement, Tseten Tashi drew attention to the relevant clause within the Indian Citizenship Act of 1956 concerning Sikkim’s integration into the Indian nation.
He specifically reminded the citizens of Sikkim about the Government of India’s official notification, published in the Gazette on June 21, 1975. This notification clearly stated that every person who held the status of a Sikkim Subject under the Sikkim Subject Regulation of 1961 automatically acquired Indian citizenship effective from April 26, 1975.
Tseten Tashi highlighted the profound legal ramifications of this transformation, which brought about a fundamental change in Sikkim’s political and legal structure following its unification with India. The Sikkim (Citizenship) Order of 1975 formally recognized all Sikkim Subjects as citizens of India, signifying a crucial juncture in the state’s journey as part of the Indian Union.
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