House in Fontainhas, an old Portuguese quarter located in Panaji, capital city of the state of Goa
A controversial case relating to the Goan identity in the former enclave is currently being considered in India, which may have an impact on the Portuguese and mixed-Portuguese people living in the former colonies of Africa and Asia.
Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva may have narrowly won the election in Goa more than four years ago, but supporters of his opponent, Valanka Alemao, have been questioning the validity of his appointment on the grounds of his birth being registered in Portugal.
In 2013, the High Court of Delhi declared that Silva was not an Indian citizen, however it is yet to be assessed whether this will lead to his disqualification from office.
Silva, like many other Goans, opted to register his birth under the Central Registry, a special benefit that has been extended to residents of Goa born before 1961 (the year when India occupied Goa ending the Portuguese rule) and their children. The same benefit applies to Macau and East Timor, as Portugal considers the three areas as foreign territories and not colonies of sovereign Portugal before liberation.
Many inhabitants of Macau hold a Portuguese citizenship on this basis, however it is no longer possible to acquire it based on having a connection with Macau, unless it is by birth or association with the territory before the handover.
According to this privilege, all those who meet these requirements and are born in the former territory of Goa are entitled to retain their Portuguese nationality.
In other areas, ex-Portuguese colonial citizens were given a period of time to decide whether they wanted to remain as Portuguese citizens or to adopt the nationality of their new independent host countries, however in Goa there was no time limit implemented, meaning that they are still entitled to declare their wish to continue being regarded as a Portuguese citizen.
While Portugal recognizes dual or multi-nationality, countries such as India and China do not. According to Herald Publications, India does not accept more than one nationality due to a lack of tax law agreements as to where dual citizens will pay their taxes.
Many Goans have registered their names in the Central Registry and will now have to await the conclusion to the case, which may affect the status of their dual-nationality in the future. According to some observers, they may be provided a one-time amnesty or they may be required to surrender their Indian or Portuguese citizenship.
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