May refer pleas challenging CAA to larger bench: SC

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the bench to put on hold the operation of CAA and postpone exercise of the National Population Register (NPR) for the time being. (Shutterstock)

PTI

New Delhi | Published 22.01.20, 05:48 AM

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it may refer pleas challenging the validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to a larger Constitution bench.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde is hearing a batch of 143 pleas challenging the validity of the CAA.

Attorney-general K. K. Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that the government has been given copies of around 60 pleas out of the 143 petitions.

He said it wanted time to respond to pleas which have not been served on it.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the bench to put on hold the operation of CAA and postpone exercise of the National Population Register (NPR) for the time being.

May refer pleas challenging CAA to larger bench: SC

The Centre told the apex court it needs more time to respond as it has only received about 60 of the 143 pleas