Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi Appears as Lawyer in SC for Hearing on Pleas Against CAA

Former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi donned lawyer's robe after three decades to challenge the constitutional validity of the CAA in the Supreme Court on December 18. (Photo Courtesy:  Gaurav Gogoi @GauravGogoiAsm/Twitter)

 

 

New Delhi, December 18 (IANS): Everyone was surprised when former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi donned lawyer's robe after three decades to challenge the constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

 

Gogoi attended the Supreme Court as a lawyer when it heard petitions challenging the CAA. The Congress leader assisted P Chidambaram in the case.

 

In 1983, Gogoi had appeared in the court last time. Interestingly, he advocated and initiated the National Register of Citizens (NRC) when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power.

 

He lost the last elections to the BJP.

 

On Wednesday, His son and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi tweeted, "My father and former three-term Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi dons his lawyer robes to file his case against the CAA in the Supreme Court today. @tarun_gogoi @INCIndia".

The ongoing anti-CAA protests have claimed four lives in Assam.

 

SC says no stay on CAA, next hearing on Jan 22

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said there would be no stay on the Citizenship Amendment Act and fixed January 22 as the date to conduct hearing on nearly 60 petitions challenging the Act.

The Centre will file affidavits on the validity of the law and will also file a reply on the petitioners' prayer seeking stay on the Act.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde orally instructed Attorney General K.K. Venugopal to publicise the aims and objects of the amended Act as people don't know about it.

The court observed this request has been made by a petitioner, though it is unusual, but it is worth considering. The A-G replied "We are happy to do it."

During the brief hearing, the petitioners' counsel contended before the court that rules on the Act are yet to be framed.

Some of the lawyers said no question of a stay on the Act arises, as rules on it are yet to be framed.