SC Denies Stay On CAA Implementation, Seeks Centre's Response By April 9

The Supreme Court heard over 200 petitions challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Tuesday. Notices were issued in cases where they had not been issued earlier, and the Centre was directed to file a response by April 9. The court also asked petitioners to file an affidavit on the requested stay through a single nodal counsel by April 2.

Despite requests, the court declined to stay the petitions until the next hearing on April 9, noting that the government currently lacks the infrastructure to implement the CAA rules, raising questions about its ability to grant citizenship by that date.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, requested more time to file a reply, citing the 237 petitions and 20 intervention applications filed for a stay. He emphasized that the CAA does not take away anyone's citizenship and only applies to those who migrated before 2014.

Senior Advocate Indira Jaisingh, representing the petitioners, suggested that if the Centre committed not to grant citizenship pending the hearing, it would save time. However, SG Mehta did not make such a commitment.

Jaisingh also requested that the matter be referred to a larger bench. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, issued notices in petitions where they had not been sent yet.

Among the prominent petitioners are Tarun Gogoi, Mahua Moitra, Asaduddin Owaisi, Manoj Kumar Jha, Tehseen S Poonawalla, and Harsh Mander. The Kerala government has also challenged the CAA and the rules notified by the Centre. Additionally, the CPI, CPI Marxist, Asom Gana Parishad, DMK, and Tripura People Front have filed petitions against the CAA.