Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Oct 10: The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it is in consultation with the Jammu and Kashmir government over statehood restoration even as the top court granted four weeks time to the Union government to respond to petitioners’ demand.
Hearing petitions on statehood restoration to Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court, granted four weeks to the Centre to respond to Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood demand.
The order was passed after Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta cited Pahalgam terror attack, stating that the incident must be considered before restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Solicitor General also informed the top court that the central government is in consultation with state government on statehood restoration and that’s the correct approach.
Earlier, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for petitioners said that Pahalgam attack happened “under the watch of central government”. “There was a solemn undertaking that statehood will be restored. Now Pahalgam attack occurred under their (Centre’s) watch,” he said.
Advocate Sankaranarayanan also submitted that statehood was taken away in 2019 and we are now in 2025. “Now for reasons best known to them enough water has flown under the bridge and elections have also been held,” he said.
Solicitor General Mehta interjected, stating, “I take objection. Under our govt watch. Who are they? Supreme court must rule on this.” He also said that not only water much blood had also flown. “Elections took place peacefully and factors such as Pahalgam incident must be considered before granting statehood,” he submitted.
Another advocate for petitioners stated that there was an undertaking given to the Court that the statehood will be restored. “If the undertaking is not honoured, what is to be done?,” he asked.
Advocate Sankaranarayanan told the top court that the matter should now go before a five-judge bench if the Centre is not deciding on statehood promise.
SG Mehta asserted that Centre is in consultation with state government and that is the correct approach. “Jammu and Kashmir region has progressed, everyone is happy. 99.99 percent of the people there treat Government of India as their own government. So all that they are saying must be taken with a pinch of salt,” he said.
The Supreme Court recorded, “Learned SG Mehta states that elections to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly were held in peaceful manner and elected government was put in place. It is stated that there has been substantial progress in J&K but says that certain incidents including Pahalgam attack have taken place and all will have to be taken into consideration before a final call. It is stated Centre and state are in consultation. Learned SG seeks more time to respond. Four weeks time granted.”
The petitioners are seeking immediate restoration of statehood and implementation of directions passed by a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in December 2023.
A bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai is hearing the plea. On August 14, the top court had given two months time to the Centre to file its response. So far, Centre has not filed any response.
On December 11, 2023, a Constitution Bench of Supreme Court had upheld abrogation of article 370 but directed Central government to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir “as soon as possible”.
Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of special status under article 370 on August 5, 2019, and bifurcated into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Since then Centre has repeatedly assured people of Jammu and Kashmir that statehood will be restored “at an appropriate time”. (KNO)
