Won’t grant stay on CAA without hearing Centre: Supreme Court

May refer pleas to decide validity of CAA to a larger Constitution bench

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File photo of the Supreme Court.

New Delhi, January 22: The Supreme Court on Wednesday commenced hearing on 143 pleas challenging constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

AG KK Venugopal representing the Centre said the government had been given copies of around 60 pleas out of 143 petitions challenging CAA.

The top court said it might refer pleas to decide validity of CAA to a larger Constitution bench.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the court to put on hold operation of CAA and postpone exercise of NPR for the time being.

The Centre said it wanted time to respond to pleas which had not been served on it.

The Supreme Court said it would not grant stay on CAA without hearing the Centre. PTI