The Supreme Court has decided to hear a series of petitions requesting a halt to the recently-notified Citizenship Amendment Rules on Tuesday, March 19. Among the petitioners is the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which, along with other parties, has moved the apex court after the central government’s notification of the rules.
Today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the IUML, urged an urgent hearing before Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressing concerns about the ramifications of implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, however, asserted that none of the petitioners had the standing to challenge the grant of citizenship.
Following this exchange, the Chief Justice agreed not only to consider IUML’s application but also to include other pleas seeking a stay on the Citizenship Amendment Rules. IUML’s plea, represented by Advocate Pallavi Pratap, emphasizes the act’s unconstitutional linkage of citizenship to religion, challenging its compatibility with India’s secular principles.
In its submission, IUML highlighted the potential repercussions of implementing the CAA and urged the court to prevent coercive actions against individuals excluded based on religion. The party also urged provisional permission for Muslims to apply for citizenship pending the court’s decision.
The Supreme Court’s decision to address these petitions underscores the gravity of concerns surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act and its rules, with implications for the nation’s constitutional values and principles of equality.
