NEW DELHI: The Indian Union Muslim League on Thursday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Citizenship Amendment Bill alleging that it violates the fundamental Right to Equality.
IUML Members of Parliament PK Kunhalikutty, ET Muhammed Basheer, Abdul Wahab and K Navas Kani are also petitioners in the case. It is learnt that senior advocate Kapil Sibal will appear for IUML in court. The petition, however, is still lying in registry in the wake of defects.
The petitioners stated that while they do not oppose the grant of citizenship to migrants, they are aggrieved by the discrimination and illegal classification based on religion.
There is an unreasonable and arbitrary classification of countries and that there are other religious minorities in the three countries which have been excluded and there is no reason for exclusion of minorities from other countries. "The Act contravenes the principle of secularism and therefore violates basic structure of the Constitution," the petition reads.
"Indian Constitution only recognizes citizenship by birth, descent or acquisition by bonafide residence. The Act makes religion a criteria for citizens a criteria for citizenship. The linking of religion to citizenship is opposed to secularism, which is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution," stated the petition.
The petitioners seek the striking down of the Act as unconstitutional for being violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.