I would agree with this view as it makes sense. Accordingly, this mans they cannot freeze your citizenship application if you are you are still fulfilling your Physical presence requirement for you Permanent Residence. right?
Correct, they should not but they are either using old school policy or deliberately doing it to reduce number of active applications.
Earlier they used to put applications on hold because applicant cant respond if they are outside since all communications are postal. But now its all via email and online, except interview/oath but still not sure why they are adding absence.
As far as i understand, i dont think there is law but its mostly a procedure/policy within cic. Not sure about the basis of these policies but its certainly troubling for the people (like me) who are outside and trying to get work done at each stage.
As there is no necessity to put the application on hold, they should at least ask the candidates whether they are ready to travel for any interview/oath, instead they simply adding absence(and /or putting file on hold) is not good, that too during this pandemic(and when everything is online communication).