Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing on the petition concerning the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating that the matter is already scheduled for October 10 this year.
The plea for early listing was made by the counsel for petitioners, who sought urgent hearing of a contempt petition linked to the abrogation of Article 370. “Statehood was to be granted to Jammu and Kashmir, and I am seeking early listing of the matter,” the counsel submitted before the bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai.
Chief Justice Gavai, however, turned down the request, pointing out that the court is required to sit as a constitutional bench of presidential reference in the matter and therefore it cannot be taken up before October 10. “The matter is already listed on October 10,” the CJI said, making it clear that no urgent hearing will be entertained before the scheduled date.
Earlier, on August 14, the apex court had sought the Centre’s reply within eight weeks on the statehood petition and stressed that the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir must be taken into account before any decision on restoration of statehood. At that time, the Chief Justice had remarked, “You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam,” in reference to the militant attack that claimed 26 lives.
The petitioners argue that the government had committed to restoring statehood after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and subsequent reorganization of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. The issue has since remained a matter of legal and political contention.
The Supreme Court’s decision today means that the hearing will go ahead as per schedule in October, keeping the question of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir pending for now. [KNT]
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