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No stay on Citizenship Act implementation: SC
Why in news?
- SC refused to stay implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which fast-tracks citizenship by naturalisation process for “illegal” migrants from 6 religious communities, other than Muslims, who have fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
More in news
- Chief Justice of India (CJI) suggested the government: to publicise the actual intent of the Act so that there was no confusion among the public about its objectives and aims.
- Violent protests have broken out all over the country since the notification of the Act on Dec 12.
- Government Stand: amendments made to the Citizenship Act of 1955 were meant to protect & welcome religiously persecuted people fleeing the 3 neighbouring countries where Muslims form the majority.
- Petitioners’ arguments:
(1) Law welcomes “illegal migrants” into India selectively on the basis of their religion and pointedly excludes Muslims.
(2) It has an “unholy nexus” with the NRC exercise and is against the principles of secularism, right to equality and dignity of life enshrined in the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
- The Act has not come into existence. Its Rules are yet to be notified.
Sources
The Hindu