SAHIL BHAT
AUG 14: Asserting that the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ignored while referring to events like Pahalgam, the Supreme Court on Thursday sought directions to the Union Government for reinstatement of Statehood to UT of J&K.
A bench comprising of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran heard the issue. The petitioners, represented by senior advocates Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Menaka Guruswamy, repeatedly laying emphasis on the assurance given by the Centre to restore Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
In the course of the hearing, Gopal Sankaranarayanan urged the Top Court to list all pending petitions for the demand of Statehood together.
“If an executory aspect is being sought then a bench may be constituted and a timeline may be fixed,” he submitted.
While listening to plea, CJI Gavai said you cannot turn a blind eye over the Pahalgam incident.
CJI Gavai added that the Centre must first file its response before any such step is considered.
At this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Government had already assured the restoration of Statehood following elections. The petitioners – Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik – have sought the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood at the earliest, preferably within two months.
The demand for statehood has been supported by political parties such as the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), J&K Congress, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC), and the Apni Party who argue that it is quintessential for restoration of local Governanace.
In December 2023, the Apex Court upheld the Nullification of Article 370 but directed the Centre to reinstate Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood “in the stipulated timeframe” and conduct the Assembly Election by September 2024.
After abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
