SC to consider listing IUML’S plea against CAA after Holi break

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday agreed to consider on March 16 the plea of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) seeking the listing of a case challenging the validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, when the apex court reopens after the weeklong Holi break. The IUML is one of the over 150 petitioners before the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of the controversial citizenship law.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for the IUML, mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, pointing out that the petitions date back to last December and that the matter has not been listed since January 22.

The CJI said that he would list the matter after arguments in the Sabarimala case, which will be heard from March 16. In response, Sibal pointed out that if the case is listed only after the Sabarimala matter, then there would be no chance of it coming up before April.

He added that the case needs to be heard only for two hours so that interim relief can be provided. CJI Bobde agreed to consider his plea and allowed Sibal to mention the case when the court resumes on March 16 after the Holi break.

The CJI also asked the central government on Thursday to file its response in the case after Sibal pointed out that the Union government is yet to do so.

The Centre’s top law officer Attorney General KK Venugopal told the SC that the reply is ready and will be filed within two days.

The petitioners have submitted that the CAA discriminates on the basis of religion by segregating people and granting them the benefit of naturalisation, if they belong to a certain religion.

THE IUML IS ONE OF THE PETITIONERS BEFORE THE SC CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONAL VALIDITY OF THE CITIZENSHIP LAW