Supreme Court sets March 19 for hearing pleas seeking stay on CAA rules
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for March 19 to address petitions seeking a stay on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules, following over two hundred challenges filed since 2019.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal brought the matter before Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who agreed to list it for the following week.
Numerous connected petitions have been lodged in the apex court, contesting various provisions of the CAA passed by Parliament in December 2019. The law aims to expedite citizenship for non-Muslim refugees fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.
While the CAA itself was enacted in December 2019, the Union government introduced its rules on Monday, sparking criticism from Opposition leaders. They denounced the rules as "unconstitutional," "discriminatory," and contrary to the "secular principle of citizenship" enshrined in the Constitution.
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Opponents of the CAA argue that by excluding Muslims and linking citizenship to religious affiliation, the law undermines India's secular foundation. Despite the backlash, the government maintains that the CAA is solely about granting citizenship and assures that no citizen will lose their status.
In an interview with news agency ANI, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the government's commitment to the CAA, asserting that it will not be revoked. Shah criticised the opposition, stating that while they have a history of making empty promises, Prime Minister Modi and the BJP fulfill their commitments.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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