SC questions rationale of CAA related petition, says 'endeavour must be to bring peace'

Responding to a petition demanding strict action from Election Commission of India (ECI) against political parties spreading misinformation about Citizenship Amendment Act on Thursday, Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant stated that it was necessary to bring peace as country was going through a critical phase. CJI ted that such petitions did t help matters at this juncture and could lead to more agitations. bench promised that matter would be heard as soon as violence stopped.  

Read: 'Will KCR Give Citizenship To Those Behind Blasts?': BJP MP Questions TRS, Owaisi Over CAA

Contentions in petition 

petition filed by Puneet Kaur Dhanda demands apex court to declare CAA as "constitutional". Moreover, it seeks a direction to use electronic and print media to extensively give information about CAA.

Additionally, plea called for state governments to aggressively implement this law. Since pass of this legislation in December, re have been extensive protests across country.  

Read: Sharad Pawar Flags Off 3000 Km Anti-CAA, NRC & NPR March Led By Yashwant Sinha

What is CAA?

CAA seeks to provide citizenship to mirity communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to members of se communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, y will t be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for se communities would be reduced to 5 years.

Read: Protesters Hold Candlelit Marches Against CAA-NRC At Jama Masjid, LalKuan In Delhi

Several parties in rth East such as All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have been vehemently opposed to this legislation. To ameliorate ir concerns, Centre has exempted a major part of rth East from ambit of CAA.  opposition contends that Bill discriminates on basis of religion, which might go against Article 14, which guarantees right to equality.  

Read: 'BJP Will Have To Pay Heavy Price For Stubbornness On CAA': Punjab CM Captain Amarinder