In a major pre-election move, the Centre has constituted an empowered committee to oversee the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state.The establishment of the empowered committee under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Rules notified in 2024 (these rules amended the 2009 version) is crucial because it serves as the final authority for scrutinising and approving citizenship applications filed by persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.The Ministry of Home Affairs today notified the committee exercising powers granted to the Centre under sub-section (1) of Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, read with sub-rules (1) and (3) of rule 11A of the Citizenship Rules, 2009.”The empowered committee for West Bengal will be headed by the Deputy Registrar General, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, and will comprise the following members — an officer from the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India; an officer not below the rank of Under Secretary, to be nominated by the jurisdictional Foreigners Regional Registration Officer; an officer not below the rank of Under Secretary, to be nominated by the State Informatics Officer of the National Informatics Centre, West Bengal, and the Post Master General of West Bengal, or a Postal Officer nominated by the Post Master General, not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India,” the official order says.The move is significant as lakhs of Matuas, Bengali Hindus, who migrated from Bangladesh and now form major vote banks in Bengal, continue to await Indian citizenship.With their CAA applications due amid the special intensive revision process, the ruling Trinamool Congress has been telling Matuas that they would be disenfranchised.TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has been asking Matuas to stay away from CAA camps, while CM Mamata Banerjee has been saying she would not allow CAA implementation in Bengal.The MHA’s latest move to form the empowered committee to scrutinise and clear pending CAA applications aims to offset the confusion related to CAA on the ground in Bengal.The empowered committee deals with application for citizenship by registration or naturalisation under section 6B of the parent law. The rule 11A specifies that applicants eligible under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014) must submit their application electronically.Sub-rule (1) of Rule 13A deals with scrutiny of applications by the Empowered Committee whose constitution has now been notified by the Centre.Its purpose is to review the applications submitted under Rule 11A. The empowered committee under Director (Census Operations) in Bengal will examine the application to ensure it is complete in all respects and the applicant satisfies all conditions laid down in Section 6B.The MHA notification accessed by The Tribune says the West Bengal empowered committee will have as special invitees the following — a representative from the office of the Principal Secretary (Home) or Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of the West Bengal State Government; a representative of the jurisdictional Divisional Railway Manager of Railways.