The Supreme Court agreed on Friday, March 15, to hear a batch of petitions seeking a stay on the recently notified Citizenship Amendment Rules (CAR). The hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 19.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by the Parliament in 2019, sparking controversy for its alleged discriminatory nature. The Act expedites citizenship for undocumented immigrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before December 31, 2014. Critics argue the CAA excludes Muslims, violating the Constitution’s principle of equality.

The petitions challenging the implementation of the CAR argue that the delay in notifying the rules after the passage of the Act itself raises questions. Petitioners contend that since the government waited over four years, a stay on implementation won’t cause undue hardship while the court deliberates on the larger issue of the CAA’s constitutionality.

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the pleas comes amidst ongoing debate surrounding the CAA and its potential impact on Indian society. The March 19 hearing is likely to be closely watched by those on both sides of the issue.

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