Supreme Court, Headed by CJI, to Hear Petitions on Restoring Jammu & Kashmir’s Statehood Today
The Supreme Court will on Thursday take up petitions urging the Union government to reinstate statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The matter comes in the wake of the court’s unanimous December 2023 verdict that upheld the removal of Article 370 provisions but directed that assembly polls and statehood restoration be completed “at the earliest.”
The petitions, filed by J&K residents including college lecturer Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and activist Khurshaid Ahmad Malik—both part of the original Article 370 challenge—argue that prolonged delay in restoring statehood undermines federalism and erodes the democratic rights of citizens in the region.
They point out that despite earlier assurances from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the Centre has yet to present a clear timeline for the process. With both the Lok Sabha and recent assembly elections held without incident, the petitioners contend that security concerns are no longer a valid obstacle. They maintain that reducing a state to a union territory constitutes a “rollback of democratic rights” and diminishes the meaning of the legislative polls just conducted.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran will hear the matter, placing renewed focus on the Centre’s promises and the constitutional implications of keeping Jammu and Kashmir as a union territory despite peaceful electoral exercises.
