Supreme Court Gives Centre Four Weeks to Respond on J&K Statehood Pleas

The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Central Government four weeks to file its response to a series of petitions seeking the restoration of Statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran heard multiple pleas, including those filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik, urging the Centre to implement its earlier assurance of restoring Statehood “at the earliest.”

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Background: Supreme Court’s December 2023 Judgment

The petitioners referred to an undertaking recorded in the Supreme Court’s December 2023 verdict, which upheld the abrogation of Article 370. The judgment had directed that assembly elections be conducted in the Union Territory by September 2024 and that Statehood be restored “at the earliest.”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told the court that consultations with the Jammu and Kashmir administration were ongoing. He described the issue as “sui generis (unique)”, noting that while the undertaking was solemn, “several factors need to be considered.”

Mr. Mehta also alleged that certain narratives were being circulated, portraying a grim picture of the Union Territory.

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Previous Developments

In December 2023, the top court had upheld the revocation of Article 370, which had granted special status to the erstwhile state. Following this, a plea was filed last year seeking directions to the Centre to restore Statehood within two months, highlighting growing public and political interest in the matter.

The Supreme Court’s directive on Friday signals that the government will have to clarify its roadmap for the future political status of Jammu and Kashmir, amid ongoing debates over governance, autonomy, and elections in the region.