Supreme Court Schedules Hearing on Petition to Restore Jammu & Kashmir’s Statehood
Petition claims delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood violates India’s federal structure.
Srinagar, Oct 10: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a petition today seeking the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), along with the implementation of directions issued by a constitutional bench in December 2023. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, will take up the plea this morning.
On August 14, 2025, the court had directed the central government to file its response within two months. However, no response has been submitted so far.
On December 11, 2023, a five-judge Constitution Bench had upheld the abrogation of Article 370 but directed the Union government to restore statehood to J&K “at the earliest, as soon as possible.” The government had assured the court that the Union Territory status of J&K was temporary and that its statehood would eventually be reinstated.
Following this assurance, the court had stated that it would not rule on the constitutionality of converting a state into a union territory under Article 3 of the Constitution. The bench had remarked:
“In view of the submission made by the Solicitor General that statehood would be restored for Jammu and Kashmir, we do not find it necessary to determine whether the reorganisation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir is permissible under Article 3.”
The current plea argues that the delay in restoring statehood amounts to a violation of India’s federal structure, urging the Supreme Court to direct the government to expedite the process.
