Advertisement

Updated January 22nd, 2020 at 15:49 IST

Bombay HC refuses to hear PIL against CAA

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to hear a PIL challenging constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying the Supreme Court is already hearing petitions pertaining to the issue.

Bombay High Court
| Image:self
Advertisement

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to hear a PIL challenging constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying the Supreme Court is already hearing petitions pertaining to the issue.

A division bench of Justices R K Deshpande and A M Borkar permitted the petitioner, social worker Urmila Kowe, to approach the apex court.

The bench noted that since there were similar petitions against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) pending before the Supreme Court, it would not be proper for the high court to interfere.

Kowe, in her public interest litigation (PIL), alleged that CAA was "arbitrary, unreasonable and violative to the Constitution of India".

READ | Supreme Court To Hear Batch Of Pleas Challenging Constitutional Validity Of CAA Today

"The Citizenship Amendment Act is violative of the secular nature of the Constitution of India and is discriminatory," the petition said. The CAA covers only a class of minorities and overlooks other reportedly persecuted religious groups, it said.

"The Act is arbitrary, unreasonable, irrational and violative of the fundamental rights of every citizen. The Preamble to the Constitution of India lays down that the State has no religion and there cannot be any discrimination among citizens," the PIL further said.

The new law seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jain refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

READ | Bombay HC Raps NMMC Over Mangroves, Cites Australian Bushfire

READ | Supreme Court's CAA Hearing LIVE: Top Court Hears Petitions Challenging Citizenship Act

Advertisement

Published January 22nd, 2020 at 15:49 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Marginalised Communities Reaching Top Govt Positions Due To 'Affirmative Action': Justice B R Gavai
6 minutes ago
Retired Police constable gets five-year jail term for molesting minor girl
11 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024
12 minutes ago
Life Insurance Corporation
12 minutes ago
Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey: ‘Anti-India’ Bangladesh Journalist Who Questioned US, UN on Arvind Kejriwal
12 minutes ago
Elon Musk announces successful Neuralink brain chip implant in human recipient amidst controversy
16 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
21 minutes ago
Allu Arjun
21 minutes ago
Kia Motors
23 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo