On Thursday, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) National General Secretary PK Kunjalikutty stated that issuing citizenship certificates under the CAA Rules, 2019, clearly violates the assurances provided by the central government to the Supreme Court.
NEW DELHI: On Thursday (16th May): The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), an ally of the Congress party in Kerala, decided to approach the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India to contest the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) by the Union Government.
READ ALSO: CAA Suspension || IUML Questions “What About Ahmadiyyas of Pakistan, Muslims in Myanmar”?
The IUML claims that the issuance of citizenship certificates under the CAA violates poll guidelines and the Government’s assurances given in the Supreme Court. This move comes after the Government granted citizenship certificates to more than 300 individuals who applied under the CAA.
The IUML, which had previously sought a stay on the CAA and its associated rules through a petition to the Supreme Court, argues that the exclusion of Muslims from the law contradicts the right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution.
The party believes that the distribution of citizenship certificates under the CAA is an attempt to influence voters and has called upon the Election Commission to take action against this alleged breach of election guidelines.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) National General Secretary PK Kunjalikutty stated that issuing citizenship certificates under the CAA Rules, 2019, clearly violates the assurances provided by the central government to the Supreme Court.
“We have enlisted the help of lawyers to advance our fight against the CAA,” stated IUML state General Secretary PMA Salam. “The party plans to take the matter to both the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”
In pursuit of their cause, the IUML initiated discussions with senior lawyers in Delhi to seek legal advice and opinion. The party aims to elevate its fight against the CAA to the next level by approaching both the Supreme Court and the Election Commission. IUML’s state General Secretary, PMA Salam, stated that they are determined to pursue the matter through legal channels.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court: Review of Petitions Against ‘CAA’ and ‘Citizenship Rules’ Set for March 19
Background
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act was enacted in December 2019 to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The law specifically targets Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians who have faced religious persecution in these countries. While the Act received the President’s assent, the rules pertaining to the grant of Indian citizenship were issued on March 11, 2024, following a delay of over four years.
The recent notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, has reignited the controversy, prompting calls for a judicial stay on the Act and Rules. Opposition leaders and various organizations, including the Assam Congress, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Democratic Youth Federation of India, and the Social Democratic Party of India, have criticized the Rules as “unconstitutional” and “discriminatory.”
On 15th March, The Supreme Court of India, under the leadership of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, announced its decision to examine all petitions related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 and the newly introduced Citizenship (Amendment) Rules of 2024. The hearing, scheduled for March 19, aims to address the legal challenges presented by approximately 190 petitions, alongside various interlocutory applications (IAs) that seek a suspension of the contentious Rules
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