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Supreme Court Sets May 5 for Final CAA Constitutionality Hearings

The Supreme Court has scheduled the final hearing for petitions challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to begin on May 5, 2026. The petitioners argue the law is unconstitutional for favoring six specific religious minorities while excluding others like the Rohingyas. The court has set a strict timeline and page limits for written submissions to expedite the process. Separate hearings concerning the impact of the CAA on Assam and Tripura will follow the main proceedings.

Key Points: Supreme Court Final CAA Hearing Begins May 5

  • Final hearing scheduled for week of May 5, 2026
  • Petitioners argue law excludes Muslims like Rohingyas
  • Separate hearings for Assam & Tripura issues
  • Court set strict page limits for submissions
2 min read

Supreme Court to begin final hearing of pleas challenging legality of CAA from May 5

Supreme Court to begin final hearings on CAA constitutionality from May 5, 2026. Petitioners challenge the law's religious criteria.

"We have granted liberty to place on record any material and other documents on the Written Submissions, if any, within four weeks. - Supreme Court"

New Delhi, February 19

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday has fixed the schedule for the final hearing in a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Citizenship Act, 2019, for the week commencing May 5, 2026.

The petitioners challenging the CAA Act will be heard on May 5 and for half a day on May 6. The respondent Union Government, supporting the legislation, will present its arguments during the remaining half of May 6 and continue on May 7.

The pleas challenge the law on the ground that it applies to individuals from six specified religious minorities - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian, while excluding other allegedly persecuted minorities such as the Rohingyas in Bangladesh and Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan.

The Bench also indicated that separate hearings concerning issues specific to Assam and Tripura will be taken up immediately after the conclusion of arguments in the main batch of cases. The overall hearing is expected to conclude by May 12.

"We have granted liberty to place on record any material and other documents on the Written Submissions, if any, within four weeks. However, there shall be no (new) Writ Petition on the written submissions already placed on record," the Court said.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, seeks to fast-track Indian citizenship for members of the six specified minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, citing religious persecution in those countries.

The Act was notified on December 12, 2019, and came into force on January 10, 2020.

The Supreme Court, in its March 19, 2024, order, declined an immediate stay on the CAA Rules. Petitioners argued for an immediate freeze, fearing that if citizenship were granted during the litigation, the process would be "irreversible." Conversely, the Solicitor General requested a four-week window to file a formal response.

During the proceedings, the Court took note of the petitioners' concerns but set a strict timeline for written submissions, limiting both petitioners and the Union to five-page summaries to expedite the hearing.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The exclusion of other persecuted groups like the Rohingyas is a valid concern raised by the petitioners. While I understand the intent behind CAA, a law based on religion for citizenship does feel problematic for our secular constitution. The court's decision will be historic.
R
Rohit P
Good to see a strict timeline. This has been hanging for too long. Let the arguments be heard properly and a decision made. The concerns of Assam and Tripura being heard separately is also crucial—their demographic and cultural fabric is directly impacted.
S
Sarah B
Watching from abroad, this is a complex issue. The principle of helping persecuted people is noble, but the selective criteria based on religion and country of origin is what's being legally challenged. The Supreme Court's interpretation will set a major precedent.
V
Vikram M
The government's argument will be interesting. They have to justify the cut-off date of 2014 and the specific religious communities. Meanwhile, petitioners' fear about "irreversible" grants of citizenship during the case is a serious procedural point. The court must ensure a fair process.
N
Nisha Z
As a citizen, my respectful criticism is about the delay. The Act was passed in 2019, rules notified in 2024, and final hearing is in 2026? Justice delayed... The five-page summary rule is good to expedite, but the overall timeline for such a pivotal law is concerning.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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