The Supreme Court recently called upon the Centre and Assam to address a new challenge against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 20The rules, designed to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from specific countries, have sparked concerns about demographic shifts in Assam. As the debate over the constitutionality of the rules continues, the Court has ordered a response to the plea and tagged it with existing cases on the matter.
The Supreme Court has recently made a move that could have significant implications regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules of 2024. These rules are aimed at granting citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.
The concern raised about potential demographic changes in Assam due to the influx of illegal migrants is a valid and pressing issue. The court has ordered that a new plea challenging these rules be tagged with pending cases on the matter, indicating the importance and complexity of the issue at hand.
The challenge against the CAA Rules alleges that they are discriminatory, arbitrary, and go against the basic structure of the Constitution. The Centre has been asked to respond to applications seeking a stay on the implementation of these rules, which have been a source of controversy and protests in recent years.
It is worth noting that the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and its rules has been contentious in the Supreme Court, with various parties and individuals raising concerns about the potential consequences of these regulations.
One of the petitioners, Hiren Gohain, has specifically highlighted the concerns about demographic changes in Assam due to the influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh. The petition emphasizes that the issue is about the influx of foreign infiltrators and not about Hindu-Muslim dynamics or communal tensions.
It is important to recognize that the population of Assam is diverse, including indigenous Assamese communities as well as migrants from other states. The operationalization of the CAA Rules is intended to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from the specified countries.
Overall, the Supreme Court seeking replies from the Centre and Assam on this new challenge against the CAA Rules underscores the ongoing debate and legal battles surrounding this contentious issue. It will be crucial to follow how this development unfolds and the potential implications it may have in the broader context of citizenship and immigration laws in India.