The Supreme Court has scheduled final hearings in the CAA challenge from May 5, 2026, separating Assam–Tripura matters from the rest of India cases. CJI Surya Kant stressed no repetition of arguments and allowed additional submissions within four weeks.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday took up the batch of petitions challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA), with a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant hearing arguments in along with connected matters.
At the very outset, senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioners, informed the Court about a fresh development connected to Section 6A and sought permission to file additional submissions. She stated,
“My apologies, My Lord… there is a very important development… your Lordship’s decision on Section 6A will have an impact on this case as well. We want to place additional submissions.”
Responding to this, the Chief Justice assured the counsel that the Court would consider the issue and said,
“You will explain that. We will hear you. It’s not that we are closing… we want to hear it.”
At the same time, the Chief Justice stressed that the hearings must remain structured and efficient. Referring to earlier circulars issued to the Bar, he underlined the importance of giving realistic time estimates and avoiding repetition of arguments already placed on record.
He reminded the lawyers,
“All written submissions are there. Need not be orally argued at length. Once rebuttal submissions are filed, points can be briefly argued. To the extent possible — no repetition.”
The Bench then sought clarity on the time required for final arguments and asked,
“How much time?”
In response, Indira Jaising submitted,
“The appropriate estimate would be one and a half to two days. Two days on the outer.”
Another counsel pointed out that certain petitions raise Assam-specific concerns and sought separate time.
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The lawyer submitted,
“My learned friend and I represent people from Assam. We may need dedicated time. The issues in Assam are slightly different…”
During the hearing, the All Assam Lawyers Association brought to the Court’s notice a change in the cut-off date under the relevant framework. It stated,
“The cut-off date now stands extended to 24 December 2024 under the Immigration & Foreigners Act framework.”
The Solicitor General also referred to a previous direction of the Court dated January 22, 2020, clarifying that petitions concerning Assam and Tripura were to be treated separately from the rest of the country. He informed the Bench that the matters had earlier been directed to be listed under two distinct categories — Assam & Tripura and the rest of India.
After considering these submissions, the Chief Justice proposed a structured approach for the final hearing. He said,
“We can first take up the pan-India batch, followed by the Assam and Tripura cases.”
The Chief Justice further clarified,
“There are two clusters of petitions challenging the CAA 2019. These were previously classified into: • Assam–Tripura matters • Cases concerning the rest of the country.”
He directed that the nodal counsels should identify the petitions falling within each group and submit the lists to the Registry within two weeks. The Registry will then formally segregate the matters.
Setting a clear timeline, the Chief Justice announced,
“The cases shall be listed sequentially for final hearing beginning the week of May 5, 2026.”
As per the tentative schedule indicated by the Court, May 5 will be reserved for the first half of the petitioners’ arguments, May 6 for the remaining petitioners, May 7 for the respondents (half day), and May 12 for rejoinder submissions.
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The Chief Justice also allowed scope for further filings and observed,
“Any additional submissions, if required, may be filed within four weeks.”
The hearing marks a significant step in the long-pending challenge to the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. With the Court now fixing a structured schedule and clearly separating Assam–Tripura matters from the rest of India cases, the final adjudication of the constitutional validity of the CAA is set to move forward in a time-bound manner.
Case Title:
INDIAN UNION OF MUSLIM LEAGUE AND ORS. Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
W.P.(C) No. 1470/2019 PIL-W
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