Despite severe brouhaha from the Opposition, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has become a law and has come into effect after getting assent from the President of India on Thursday. Following the president’s assent, an MP from TMC, Mohua Mitra on Friday had rushed to file a petition in the Supreme Court to challenge the Citizenship Amendment Act and asked the top court to hear the case right away, either today or on Monday.
However, much to her disappointment, the Supreme Court has refused to accept Moitra’s request for an urgent hearing in the case. The matter was mentioned before Bench led by CJI SA Bobde and comprising Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant this morning. But the CJI had asked Moitra’s counsel to list the matter before the mentioning registrar.
Moitra’s counsel was asked to approach the court registry officer who looks at cases to be mentioned before the bench when her counsel insisted for a listing on Monday next week.
Moitra’s move does not come as a surprise as TMC supremo had on Monday gave a clarion call to oppose NRC and Citizenship (Amendment) Act and said, “not a single citizen of the country will be allowed to turn a refugee”.
Moitra’s petition is the second petition to reach the Supreme Court. Earlier, Congress’ ally, the Indian Union Muslim League represented by Kapil Sibal had moved SC against Citizenship Amendment Bill, seeking to declare it ‘illegal and void’ as it alleged that the bill violates the fundamental Right to Equality of the Constitution.
Along with Indian Union Muslim League opposing Citizenship Amendment Bill, four other Members of Parliament, which include, PK Kunhalikutty (Lok Sabha IUML MP representing Kerala), ET Mohammed Basheer (Lok Sabha IUML MP representing Kerala), Abdul Wahab (Rajya Sabha IUML MP from Kerala) and K Navas Kani (Lok Sabha IUML MP from Tamil Nadu), had also filed a petition in the apex court against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, on grounds that it violates the Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.
Today, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh has also reportedly approached the SC against the act.
