New Delhi, Aug 25: The Supreme Court on Monday declined an urgent listing of petitions seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, observing that the matter is already scheduled for October 10.
A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai said the issue involves a constitutional bench of presidential reference and cannot be taken up before the scheduled date. The plea for early hearing was made by the counsel for petitioners, who argued that statehood had been assured at the time of the abrogation of Article 370.
The CJI, while reiterating the court’s earlier directions, reminded the counsel that on August 14 the Centre was asked to file its reply within eight weeks. The court had also underlined that prevailing ground realities, including security concerns highlighted after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, would have to be factored in while considering statehood restoration.
