Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Response on Restoring J&K Statehood
The Supreme Court has asked the central government to respond within eight weeks to a plea seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. A bench led by CJI B R Gavai issued the notice while acknowledging the government's argument that "several considerations" influence the decision-making process. In a December 2023 ruling that upheld the revocation of Article 370, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to restore J&K's statehood "at the earliest".
Unpacked:
In August 2019, the Indian government revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and reorganized the region into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—arguing it would promote integration and development. The move was controversial and sparked significant debate both within India and internationally.
Petitioners argue that prolonged Union Territory status undermines Jammu and Kashmir's democratic setup, reduces local self-governance, and violates principles of federalism enshrined in the Indian Constitution. They contend this has led to weaker democratic representation and hindered the region’s development.
The Supreme Court emphasized that security concerns and local incidents, such as the attack in Pahalgam, must be taken into account before restoring statehood, suggesting that ongoing instability and violence in the region are significant factors in the government's decision-making process.
The central government has assured the Supreme Court that Jammu and Kashmir’s status as a Union Territory is temporary and that statehood will be restored. However, no specific deadline has been set, and the government cites security and administrative considerations as reasons for the delay.