“Centre commits to J&K statehood post-polls”, Solicitor General tells court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday heard the petitioners of a bunch of pleas on restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, emphasizing the need to consider the implications of the recent Pahalgam terror attack on regional security.
The discussion on recent Pahalgam terror attack arose during a hearing of the petitions seeking the implementation of a December 2023 Supreme Court order that called for the restoration of statehood following the completion of Assembly elections, which were held in September-October 2024. The National Conference, led by Omar Abdullah, emerged victorious in these elections, securing 27 out of 42 seats.
The petitioners are urging the court to expedite the return of Jammu and Kashmir to statehood within two months, arguing that the delay constitutes a violation of India’s federal structure. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayan suggested that all related petitions be consolidated and addressed with a fixed timeline. In response, Chief Justice BR Gavai indicated that the government should first provide a formal response to the petition.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, acknowledged the commitment to restore statehood post-elections but questioned the timing of the current agitation on the issue. Since the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into union territories in August 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370, the government has maintained that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, although no specific timeline has been provided.
The restoration of statehood has been a significant topic in political discourse, particularly during the recent election campaigns, with various parties, including the Congress and the National Conference, pressuring the ruling BJP to fulfill its promises. However, the urgency of these demands has been overshadowed by the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals and was linked to terrorist groups with alleged ties to the Pakistan Army. In response, India conducted military operations against terror camps, leading to a brief military conflict with Pakistan that concluded with a ceasefire request from Islamabad. Additionally, three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were neutralized in a subsequent security operation.
