Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 8: The Supreme Court will on Friday, August 8, hear a petition urging the Central government to expedite the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The application, moved by Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and activist Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, contends that the prolonged delay in granting statehood goes against the principle of federalism, which forms part of the Constitution’s basic structure. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, requested Chief Justice of India B R Gavai to ensure the case remains listed for hearing. The CJI agreed to the request.

“The non-restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood within a fixed timeframe is a violation of the federal spirit of the Constitution,” the plea asserted. It further pointed out that peaceful Assembly elections have already been held in the Union Territory, proving there are no security or law-and-order issues to delay the process.

On December 11, 2023, a five-judge Constitution Bench had upheld the Centre’s 2019 move to abrogate Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state, declaring it constitutionally valid. The Bench recorded the Solicitor General’s statement that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir — excluding Ladakh, which will remain a separate Union Territory.

The verdict also directed the Election Commission of India to conduct elections to the J&K Legislative Assembly by September 30, 2024, while stressing that the restoration of statehood should happen “at the earliest and as soon as possible.”