NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to examine the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act but refused to stay its operation. In a brief hearing on Wednesday morning a three-judge top court bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde also declined to stay implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA. The bench observed that "we will have to see whether the Act has to be stayed".

The Act provides citizenship rights to certain class of refugees who have come to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant fixed the pleas, including those filed by the Indian Union Muslim League and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, for hearing on January 22, next year.

The bench issued notice to the Centre on the batch of pleas seeking stay on the operation of the law as well as on the main petition challenging the constitutional validity of the controversial legislation.

On the other hand, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi government would not back down in the face of nationwide protests.

"Come what may, the Modi government will ensure these refugees get Indian citizenship and live as Indians with honour," Mr Shah said at a rally in Delhi's Dwarka, even as fresh protests against the law broke out in east Delhi's Seelampur.

Also Read | No Bullet Was Fired By Police In Jamia University

Also Read: Protest At Urdu Varsity In Solidarity With Jamia Students