NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed the final hearing in the batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, for the week commencing on May 5, 2026.
"The cases shall be listed sequentially for final hearing beginning the week of May 5, 2026," said the CJI-led bench.
During the hearing, the court decided the format and modalities in which it would take up the pleas for hearing. "We can first take up the pan-India batch, followed by the Assam and Tripura cases," the bench said.
CJI Surya Kant added that there were two clusters of petitions challenging the CAA 2019. These were previously classified into, Assam–Tripura matters and those cases concerning the rest of the country.
The petitioners have moved the top court challenging the CAA Act and sought appropriate directions and orders.
The court said that the pleas will will be heard on May 5 and for half a day on May 6. The Respondents Centre (supporting the CAA) will be heard during the rest of half day on May 6 and on May 7.
"Separate hearings for matters pertaining to Assam and Tripura will follow immediately after the rest of the cases, but the hearing will conclude on May 12," it added.
While granting liberty to place on record any material and other documents on the written submissions, if any, within four weeks, the court said, there shall be no (new) Writ Petition on the written submissions already placed on record.
The court clarified that the nodal counsel will identify the respective petitions falling within each group and submit the lists to the Registry within two weeks. Registry will thereafter segregate the matters accordingly.
The court also tentatively fixed the hearing schedule as follows. May 5 – Petitioners (first half), May 6 – Petitioners (remaining half), May 7 – Respondents (half day) and May 12 – Rejoinder to be followed.
The court stated that if any additional submissions, if required, may be filed within four weeks.