SC hearing on Article 370 | J&K’s statehood will be restored, Ladakh will remain a Union Territory: Centre

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta apprised the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the Union government will restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) however Ladakh will continue to remain a Union Territory.

‘I have taken instructions. The instructions are that Union Territory is not a permanent feature. But I will make a positive statement the day after tomorrow. Ladakh will remain a Union Territory’, Mr. Mehta said during the course of the hearing.

Such an assurance was given after Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud asked the Solicitor General to take instructions from the Union government on whether there is a definite timeline for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood while underscoring that the restoration of democracy is vital.

‘We understand that these are matters of national security…the preservation of nation itself is the overriding concern. But without putting you in a bind, you and the Attorney General may seek instructions on the highest level – is there a time frame in view?’, CJI Chandrachud enquired.

The Bench had earlier asked Attorney General R. Venkataramani to look into the suspension of Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, a senior lecturer of political science four days after he pleaded against the Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370 before the apex court. Justice B. R. Gavai also questioned the Centre about the “close proximity” between Mr Bhat’s appearance in court and the suspension order.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre decided to strip the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories. By abrogating Article 370, the Central Government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Several petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, were referred to a Constitution Bench in 2019.

COPY To The Hindu