Seeks Centre’s Response within 8 Weeks on Plea for Restoring J&K’s Statehood
New Delhi, Aug 14 :
The Supreme Court on Thursday heard an application seeking directions for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, with Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for the applicants.
As per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court that it has been 21 months since the judgment directing the Election Commission of India to hold J&K assembly elections by September 30 and for statehood to be restored “as soon as possible,” yet no substantial movement has been made despite earlier assurances.
Counsel appearing for the former Chief Secretary of J&K supported the plea. Gopal Sankaranarayanan further urged the court to list all related matters the same day, stating that if any clarification is required, a bench should be constituted.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea, arguing that the miscellaneous application was “not maintainable,” pointing out that costs have been imposed in similar matters earlier, and stressing that “peculiar conditions emerge in this part of the country” when elections are held. He requested the matter be taken up after eight weeks.
Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, heading the bench, observed, “Ground situation must be considered, you cannot ignore incidents like Pahalgam.” The Solicitor General maintained that steps toward restoring statehood are underway but said the situation on the ground remains complex.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran also took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that there were “several considerations which go into the decision-making process.”
It listed the plea, filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik, for hearing after eight weeks.
“You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam… It is for Parliament and the Executive to take a decision,” the CJI said when senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Bhat, sought an early hearing. (KNC)