Supreme Court will hear petitions seeking stay on the CAA and its rules on March 19
The Supreme Court agreed to hear on March 19 a slew of petitions to stay the operation of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and its rules notified earlier this week, which fasttrack the grant of Indian citizenship to nonMuslim migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
“The Act was enacted in 2019. They wait for fourandahalf years and notify the rules just days ahead of the elections... Once the process of grant of citizenship starts under this Act, it cannot be reversed. Please hear our applications for stay,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged a threejudge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud in an oral mentioning of the case on Friday.
Mr. Sibal represents the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a political party also represented by advocate Haris Beeran. The IUML is the primary petitioner in the lead case that has 237 separate petitions challenging the legality of CAA on the ground that it discriminates in granting citizenship on the basis of religion.
Interim stay sought
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), represented by advocate Subhash Chandran K.R., has also filed an application seeking an interim stay on the implementation of the law.
SolicitorGeneral Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, said listing the case early, on March 19, was “absolutely the prerogative of the court”.
“However, none of these petitioners have the locus standi to say whether or not the Centre can grant citizenship... That may be kept in mind... Whether it is now the first day or the last day before the elections, the petitioner [represented by Mr. Sibal] need not go into that. This is a constitutional court,” Mr. Mehta objected strongly.
The court said all 237 petitions would be listed on March 19.