'Can't ignore attack in Pahalgam': SC on J&K statehood plea

The Supreme Court on Thursday cited the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and observed that it was for the government to assess ground realities, even as it sought a response from the Centre on a plea for time-bound restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench of Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and justice K Vinod Chandran issued notice on the application, posting it for hearing after eight weeks.

During the Thursday hearing, senior advocate Gopal Sankarayanan, appearing for applicants Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, read from the Supreme Court's December 2023 judgment on the abrogation of Article 370 to argue that the court had refrained from deciding the statehood issue only because the solicitor general had assured it would be restored after elections.

“Based on the submissions of the Union, the court was not drawn into answering that question because an assurance was given. Restoration of statehood was to be done after elections. It has been 21 months since that judgement. Our plea says it should be done within two months, but this court may fix any proper timeline and we will accept it,” he said.