New Delhi, Jan 14: The Kerala government has challenged the new Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) before the Supreme Court, becoming the first state to do so amid nationwide protests against the religion-based citizenship law. The Supreme Court is already hearing over 60 petitions against the law.
Kerala's Left-led government in its petition calls the CAA a violation of several articles of the constitution including the right to equality and says the law goes against the basic principle of secularism in the constitution.
The Kerala government has also challenged the validity of changes made in 2015 to the Passport law and the Foreigners (Amendment) Order, regularising the stay of non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who had entered India before 2015.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), eases the path for non-Muslims in the neighbouring Muslim-majority nations of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to become Indian citizens. Critics fear that the CAA, along with a proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), will discriminate against Muslims.
The Kerala petition says the CAA violates Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the constitution.
While Article 14 is about the right to equality, Article 21 says "no person will be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law". Under Article 25, "all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience."
Several non-BJP governments have refused to carry out the NRC in an attempt to stave off the enforcement of the citizenship law.
Over 60 writ petitions have been filed in Supreme Court so far against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Various political parties, NGOs and also MPs have challenged the law.
The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on January 22.
During the last hearing, petitioners didn't ask that the law be put on hold as the CAA was not in force. The Act has, however, come into force from January 10 through a home ministry notification.
Comments
But BJP was able to do it in UP and Gujarat since EC is in its pocket
After model code of conduct came into existence in Karnataka, Congress crooks are not able to distribute money (both black money & fake currency) freely to get people for Pappu rallies like before.
Why can’t the idiot understand that Kannadigas have no interest in meeting him to listen to his nonsense.
Because it is a BJP stronghold and naturally communally sensitive region!
"Rahul asked party workers not to brag about their achievements and the
achievements of ministers, but to focus on key issues of each region
that ensure victory"
Is there anything to brag? And, he is advising to focus on key issues, now, during the election time? What were they doing for last 5 years?
Congress has change for its own good. Party party hierarchy, should be strong. The party must have zero tolerance on Corruption in the name of Party funds. Collect money from ministerial aspirants and Chairmen of statutory boards. Why other parties speak lightly about Congress is due to situation that is prevailing in the Congress. Native Congressmen are sidelined with migrated defected leaders. No one is listening or giving chances to hear views. This time Congress will learn a hard lesson for sidelining devout and loyal Congress leaders and giving prominence of migrants. Even senior leaders like Mr.Jaffar Sheriff and Moily are sidelined. Mr. S.M. Krishna left the party due to not giving importance to his seniority or experience. Now one after the other will start leaving the Congress after out come of the elections in Karnataka.
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