'Centre Must Clarify If Nationwide NRC Will Be Prepared': Indian Union Muslim League Files Application In SC [Read Application]

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking to direct the Union Government to clarify if country wide National Register of Citizens(NRC) will be prepared and if the National Population Register (NPR) is linked with the same.

They have also filed another application seeking a stay of the January 10 notification, which brought the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 into force.

These applications are filed seeking interim directions in the writ petition filed by IUML challenging the validity of CAA.

The applications refer to the statements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on various occasions that CAA is the precursor to NRC. Statement made by Minister of State Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha that NPR is the first step towards NRC is also mentioned in the application.

The application further states that the the Prime Minister, Home Minister and also the Union Law Minster have later made statements denying plans for NRC and also link between NPR and NRC. These statements were made in the wake of country wide protests against CAA and NRC.

"Such contradictory statements given by the Ministers of the Union Respondents are creating a widespread confusion and panic among people at large. Therefore the Respondent Union must clarify their stand and halt any proceeding in relation to the said NRC and NPR process till the present writ is pending before this Hon'ble Court", stated the application.

IUML was the first party to approach the apex court against CAA, even before the Act received the Presidential assent.

The SC is slated to hear nearly 60 petitions against the controversial legislation on January 22.

The Act, which seeks to ease the process of citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who had entered India before December 31,2014 after fleeing religious persecution in their home countries, is challenged on the ground that religion-based exclusion violates Article 14 of the Constitution. It is also argued by the petitioners that the Act violates the secular character of Indian Constitution by linking citizenship with religion.

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Read the application for stay

Read the application seeking clarification