Supreme Court Requests Centre's Reply on Appeals for Halting CAA Regulations

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response to pleas urging a stay on the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Rules. The court will hear the matter on April 9, with petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), arguing for an early hearing.

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In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, issued a notice to the Centre in response to multiple petitions seeking a halt to the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules. The apex court, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, set April 9 as the date for further hearing, demanding the Centre's response by April 8.

The petitions, challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA, 2019, argue for a suspension of the recently-notified Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024, until the court's decision. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), emphasized the urgency of the matter, asserting that Indian citizenship once granted cannot be revoked.

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During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the CAA, stressing that it doesn't strip anyone of citizenship rights. However, the petitioners pressed for a stay on the rules, contending that they should remain inactive until the court reaches a verdict on the Act's validity.

The Centre announced the CAA rules on March 11, marking a significant step nearly four years after its parliamentary approval. The Act aims to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries who arrived before December 31, 2014.

The legal battle surrounding the CAA intensifies as the Supreme Court navigates through complex constitutional issues, balancing between national security concerns and the principles of equality and justice for all citizens.