As reported by PTI, the SC bench, comprising the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala took cognisance of a lawyer's submission who is appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Hiren Gohain, a resident of Guwahati.
In January 2019, when the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was first passed in the Lok Sabha, Assam saw widespread protests against the proposed law and the BJP.
The Citizenship Act was amended in 2019 to make it easier for non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to seek citizenship in India
The CAA seeks to amend the definition of illegal immigrants for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have lived in India without documentation. The govt plans to notify the Act before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite protests, the Act remains unenforced. Concerns arise over its impact on religious and cultural identities, triggering intense debates over equality and constitutional rights.
When queried about the likelihood of the CAA rules being notified before the anticipated April-May Lok Sabha elections, the official affirmed, "Indeed, well in advance of that."