Mahua Moitra, Others Moves SC Challenging Amended Citizenship Act

File image of TMC Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra 

(Photo: PTI)

TMC leader Mahua Moitra moved the Supreme Court challenging the amended Citizenship Act, which got Presidential assent on Thursday, 12 December. The Court has refused to grant urgent hearing on the matter.

Moitra’s counsel mentioned the matter on Friday, for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, who asked him to approach the mentioning officer.

Moitra’s counsel told the bench that the plea be listed either during the day or on 16 December.

Besides the TMC MP, Peace Party also filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Friday, stating that the Constitution does not allow classification on the basis of religion.

A student from Symbiosis Law School, and two more lawyers have filed a petition in the case as well.

President Ram Nath Kovind had, on 12 December night, given his assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act.

As per the Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till 31 December 2014, and had faced religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

(With inputs from PTI)