SC Refuses To Stay Implementation Of Citizenship Act, Sends Notice To Govt
Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Center on 60 petitions against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, stating that no stay order can be granted as the Act is not in force.
The bench of Chief Justice of India Justice SA Bobde and BR Gavai and Suryakant said that whether the act was to have stayed or not would have to be seen. The next hearing of the case will be on January 22, 2020.
The apex court on Wednesday took a set of petitions for hearing, challenging the latest amendment to the Citizenship Act. A total of 60 petitions have been filed in Assam by ruling BJP ally TMC MP Mohua Moitra, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Indian Union Muslim League and Asom Gana Parishad.
Dismissing the demand of a judicial probe in police action against protesting students in Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the petitioners to approach the High Courts.
The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 9 December. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 11 December, a day after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval. Following the official enactment of the law, which grants Indian citizenship to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing religious persecution in neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Protests erupted in the Northeast, West Bengal and Delhi, and in many other state campuses.
The protests and police action to contain the protests took the issue to a different tandem and petitions were filed to the Supreme Court against police excesses.
Fresh violence broke out on Tuesday in Delhi’s Seelampur as a protesting mob clashed with the police.
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