West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (August 24, 2026) said that 23,000 certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 have been distributed out of the 2.30 lakh applications that have been made.

“Through the district magistrates, we will complete the hearings and grant the certificates. Now it is up to us to give certificates,” Mr. Adhikari said. The Chief Minister said that about 2.07 lakh applications are pending with the State government. He also urged people who have to come to India after facing religious persecution to apply to the State government for CAA certificates.

A few days ago, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) transferred the processing of pending citizenship applications under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, from Empowered Committees to District Collectors in eight States and Union Territories.

During the campaign for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to fast-track and accelerate the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to grant legal citizenship rights to refugee communities like the Matuas and Namasudras.

Speaking to media persons at the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister said that the State’s Governor, R.N. Ravi, has given his nod for the new Act enabling the arrest of those attacking police, cost recovery for public property damage, and a notification was issued in this regard during the day.

Mr. Adhikari was referring to the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which imposes a payment of compensation on persons committing offences such as causing damage to public or private property. Another Bill passed by the State Assembly, the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, which empowers the government to detain a person for 12 months is awaiting the nod of the President.