Supreme Court to Begin Final Hearing on CAA Challenges from May 5

The Supreme Court will commence final hearings on petitions challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and its Rules from May 5, 2026.

A Bench led by CJI Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, fixed the schedule after hearing time estimates. Matters have been grouped into Assam–Tripura cases and those from the rest of India for final disposal.

Over 243 petitions challenge the 2019 law, which grants citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. Petitioners argue it violates Article 14’s equality guarantee.

Notices were issued in 2019; no stay was granted before the Rules were notified in March 2024.