Plea To Stay Citizenship Amendment Act : Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing

Sibal : They said they were not notifying rules so no stay was granted.

SG : No, no.

CJI : The record will speak for itself (refers to the previous orders).

Sibal : They have waited for so long, so why should the process the time. 4 weeks for an application for stay is far too much. My request is, immediately after April vacations, they shold come back. There is no great urgency today (to grant citizenship).

CJI : Who will be making the lead arguments?

Sr Adv Kapil Sibal : I will be.

CJI : Mr.Sibal, Union wants 4 weeks.

Sibal : The problem is, the notification was issued after 4 years. Under the law, the rules have to be notified within 6 months. Problem is if somebody gets citizenship, it will be impossible to reverse and petitions will become infructuous.

CJI : Solicitor, when will you file your reply?

SG : 4 weeks.

Vijay Hansaria : Inner line states are also excluded. Arunachal, Meghalaya, Manipur, Meghalaya completely out. Tripura major areas out...

CJI : According to you, this is an invitation from people from other parts to come to Assam?

One Counsel : 6B(4) says it will not apply to certain tribal areas of Assam..Meghalaya completely out, Tripura completely out, Mizoram completely out...

CJI : Not the whole state, but those parts included in the 6th Schedule.

SG : This is from the beginning.

One Coursel submits that 6B(4) excludes certain areas from the Act.

CJI : There is already an order that Assam matters will be heard separately.

CJI : Can we suggest something? We will issue notice on petitions in which notice has not been issued. Step by step. We will issue notice on the IAs. Solicitor General wants some time. We will give them some reasonable time.

Another Counsel : Assam and North East matters were segregated. The issues in those petitions are different. Here, 6B is contrary to 6A. Also there is the issue of inner line permit.