New Delhi| Aug, 24 : The Supreme Court of India has declined to expedite the hearing on petitions requesting the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently scheduled for October 10. On August 14, Chief Justice B R Gavai had previously requested the Centre to respond within eight weeks regarding a separate plea for statehood restoration.
As a lawyer on Monday sought urgent hearing on restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir the Chief Justice B R Gavai reiterated that the matter is already set for hearing in October and noted that the court is engaged in a constitutional bench hearing concerning presidential timelines for governors and the president. The bench had previously indicated the importance of considering ground realities, referencing recent events in Pahalgam when discussing the need for an early hearing.
In a significant ruling on December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the revocation of Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, while also mandating that assembly elections be conducted by September 2024 and statehood be restored “at the earliest.” The court clarified that Article 370 was a temporary provision established in 1949. Additionally, a separate plea was filed last year urging the court to direct the Centre to restore statehood within two months.
