The legal action over citizenship filed by three Malaysian-born Indians against the government finally came to an end after both parties resolved the matter in the High Court today.
The parties recorded the consent settlement in chambers before Judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof.
Counsel Eric Paulsen and Latheefa Koya, who acted for S. Letchumy and her two daughters, K. Sarojini and K. Mala, told reporters that the National Registration Department (NRD) had issued certificates of confirmation of citizenship by operation of law to his clients on September 6.
“The NRD on Sept 13 had issued MyKads to the applicants (Letchumy, Sarojini and Mala),” said Eric.
Senior Federal Counsel Shamsul Bolhassan representing the respondents, NRD director-general, Home Ministry and the government said that the applicants had obtained their MyKads last week.
He also said the court had made no order as to cost.
Justice Zaleha had on July 17, asked the parties to settle the matter.
Letchumy, 70, born in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, and Sarojini, 33, and Mala, 35, both born in Banting, Selangor, had obtained leave from the High Court on January 22, for a judicial review application to challenge the NRD’s decision dated September 29, last year.
In the application, they were seeking a certiorari order to quash the NRD’s decision that the applicants were not qualified to apply for citizenship under the Federal Constitution.
The applicants were also seeking a declaration to accept Sarojini and Mala as citizens under Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution.
The trio were also seeking a mandamus order from the court to instruct the NRD to issue MyKads to them.
In the application, they claimed that the NRD had failed to consider the background of their birth place. – Bernama, September 18, 2013.

Category: News