The Pinarayi Vijayanled LDF government in Kerala, on Tuesday, moved the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a first by any state government. They sought that the act be declared as violative of the basic structure—principle of equality, freedom and secularism. The Kerala Assembly was also the first in the country to pass a resolution against the Act. The CAA grants Indian citizenship to nonMuslim minorities who migrated to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, following persecution over their faith. The Kerala government has said in its suit that there is no rationale in grouping together the three countries for the purpose of the CAA. In its suit, the state referred to Article 131 of the Constitution. On this edition of the big picture we will take a closer look at Article 131 and special powers of the Supreme Court.

Guests P K Malhotra, Former Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, GoI,
Satya Prakash, Legal Editor, The Tribune,
Aishwarya Bhati, Advocate, Supreme Court,

Anchor Frank Rausan Pereira