Supreme Court to Begin Final CAA Hearings from May 5, 2026

The Supreme Court of India officially announced on Thursday, February 19, 2026, that it will commence the final hearing on a batch of over 200 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) from May 5, 2026. The hearings are scheduled to conclude on May 12, 2026. A three-judge Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, will preside over these crucial proceedings. The CAA, enacted in December 2019, aims to fast-track Indian citizenship for non-Muslim migrants—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—who fled religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and entered India on or before December 31, 2014. The legislation has been a subject of widespread debate and protests across India since its passing, with critics arguing that it violates the secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution by explicitly excluding Muslims. More than 200 petitions have been filed against the Act, with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) being a lead petitioner. Senior advocates representing the petitioners, such as Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising, have consistently argued that the CAA is discriminatory and unconstitutional, as it grants citizenship based on religious identity. They have highlighted concerns that granting citizenship under the Act is an irreversible process and that the law could potentially affect the rights of other communities. The Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, has defended the Act, stating that it offers a humanitarian relaxation in the form of amnesty to specific communities facing persecution in neighboring countries and questioned the petitioners' locus standi to challenge the government's authority to grant citizenship. During today's hearing on February 19, 2026, the Supreme Court issued procedural directions for the final hearings. The Bench decided that the petitioners, including the IUML, will be heard for one and a half days, while the Centre will be allocated one full day to present its arguments. Rejoinder submissions by the parties are scheduled for May 12, 2026. The Court also asked all parties to file any additional documents and submissions within four weeks. A significant aspect of the upcoming hearings is the consideration of pleas specifically pertaining to the states of Assam and Tripura. Senior advocates, including Indira Jaising, have requested that these matters be heard separately due to unique issues arising from Section 6A of the Citizenship Act and concerns related to the Inner Line Permit. The CJI indicated that the general petitions against the CAA could be heard first, followed by the specific issues concerning Assam and Tripura. It is notable that while the CAA was passed in 2019, the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, enabling its implementation, were notified only in March 2024, nearly five years later. Following the notification of these rules, several interim applications were filed seeking a stay on their operation, which the Supreme Court had previously refused to grant. The case had last come up before a Bench led by then Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud in March 2024, where the Centre was asked to respond to these interim applications. The Supreme Court's decision to schedule the final hearing for May 2026 underscores the complexity and significant legal ramifications of the CAA, which continues to be a central topic of national importance in India. The outcome of these hearings will have profound implications for the interpretation of India's citizenship laws and its constitutional framework.

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