Supreme Court to Deliberate on Stay of Citizenship (Amendment) Act

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear pleas seeking a stay on the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and its rules on March 19. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), urged the court to consider their applications for a stay, highlighting the hurried notification of rules just before elections. The IUML, along with 237 separate petitioners, challenges the legality of the CAA, alleging discrimination in granting citizenship based on religion.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued against the petitioners’ locus standi in deciding citizenship matters, emphasizing the court’s prerogative to list the case early. The IUML contends that the rules facilitate a fast-tracked process for citizenship, eliminating independent scrutiny levels previously mandated by the Citizenship Rules of 2009. They argue that deferring CAA implementation until the Supreme Court’s final decision is essential to avoid depriving potential citizens in case of a constitutional finding against the Act.