In the Supreme Court, the petitions related to the reinstatement of the full state status of Jammu and Kashmir were heard today. The court has sought a written reply from the central government within eight weeks. The court also referred to the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gawai and Justice of Justice said that terrorist incidents like ground reality and Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ignored.
In fact, on 5 August 2019, after removing Article 370, the Central Government formed a union territory. The Center’s decision in the Supreme Court was then challenged. In December 2023, the Supreme Court held Article 370 removal from the state and ending special state status.
The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta then assured that the central government would restore the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the court did not give any clear time limit for this restoration.
Today, on behalf of the government, Mehta said that the central government had assured to restore state status after the first elections and is working on it.
Court said- ground reality will be seen
CJI said that the court cannot be proceeded without responding. He said that it is necessary to see not only constitutional needs, but also safety conditions. Decision will not be taken only on the basis of constitutional debate but the ground reality will be seen. The court has given the government 8 weeks after which the case will be heard.
Senior Advocate Shankaranarayan said that in the decision of 11 December 2023, the court directed to hold the assembly elections by September 2024 after the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. After this, the status of the state should be restored. But there should be no delay in restoring state status. Now it has been 21 months but no progress has been made.
The petitioner said- the situation in the state is general
These petitions were filed by Professor Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and socio-political activist Khurshid Ahmed Malik. He argued that the assembly and Lok Sabha elections have been held peacefully. It is clear that the security and democratic processes of the state are running smoothly.
But due to non -receipt of state status, the importance of the elected government there has been less and it is also weakening the federal structure.
