New Delhi, Oct 17: The Supreme Court of India has announced its intention to consider a plea seeking the time-bound restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement was made during proceedings on Thursday, when senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the applicants, emphasized the urgency of the matter before a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, alongside Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
During the hearing, Sankaranarayanan pointed out that there is a Miscellaneous Application (MA) specifically requesting the conferment of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that a prior judgment from the Supreme Court had acknowledged the need for a time-bound approach to restoring statehood, underscoring the pressing nature of the issue. “There is an MA for conferring statehood. It was noted in last year’s judgment that it has to be time-bound,” the senior advocate stated.
In response, Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked, “I will deal with it,” indicating the court’s willingness to address the application.
The plea was filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, an academician, and Khurshid Ahmad Malik, a socio-political activist based in Jammu and Kashmir. Their application seeks a definitive timeline for the restoration of statehood, an issue of considerable significance for the region, which has faced numerous political and social challenges since the revocation of its special status.
On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court had unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which previously granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. In that ruling, the court ordered that assembly elections be conducted in the region by September 2024 and asserted that the restoration of statehood should occur “at the earliest.” This recent development adds a layer of urgency to the ongoing discourse surrounding the political future of Jammu and Kashmir, as advocates for statehood continue to push for timely action from the judiciary.
The Supreme Court’s consideration of this plea reflects the broader legal and political implications of Jammu and Kashmir’s status and the rights of its residents. As the court prepares to deliberate on this significant matter, the outcome may shape the trajectory of governance and representation in the region for years to come.