SC asks Centre to respond on J-K statehood petitions

The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to file its response within four weeks to a batch 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 was hearing multiple pleas, including those filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik. The petitioners urged the implementation of the Centre’s assurance to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir “at the earliest.”

The petitioners’ counsel referred to an undertaking recorded in the Supreme Court’s December 2023 judgment, which upheld the abrogation of Article ... but also directed that Jammu and Kashmir’s assembly elections be held by September 2024 and that statehood be restored promptly.

Solicitor General Tushar, representing the Centre, informed the court that substantial progress has been made in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated, "Elections were done in a peaceful manner and a government was elected," adding that "during the period of the last 6 years, there has been substantial progress in J&K." However, he noted that certain incidents, such as the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, must be taken into consideration before a final decision is made. He described the matter as “sui generis,” emphasizing that broader concerns needed to be addressed despite the solemn undertaking. Mehta also claimed that certain narratives were being propagated that painted a grim picture of the union, complicating the discourse further.

The issue remains politically and legally sensitive. While the Supreme Court in December 2023 had upheld the revocation of Article, it had also underscored the Centre’s commitment to restoring statehood. Since then, delays in execution have fueled public debate and heightened political scrutiny. Critics argue that the slow pace of restoration undermines constitutional assurances, while the government cites administrative, security, and socio-political considerations as reasons for careful deliberation.

This four-week window now places the onus squarely on the Centre to provide clarity on its plans, balancing legal commitments with ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir. Observers suggest that the timeline set by the Supreme Court could accelerate political discourse and possibly influence upcoming regional elections, making this a critical juncture in the statehood debate.