New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined a plea for urgent hearing in the matter concerning the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, fixing the next date of hearing for October 10.
During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners sought early listing of a contempt petition relating to the abrogation of Article 370, arguing that statehood was to be restored to the Union Territory.
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, heading the bench, refused the request and noted that the case is already scheduled for October 10. “The court will have to sit in a constitutional bench of presidential reference. The matter cannot be listed before October 10,” the CJI observed.
On August 14, the apex court had sought the Centre’s reply within eight weeks on the petition seeking restoration of statehood. At that time, the bench also stressed that the prevailing ground situation had to be considered before arriving at any decision.
“You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam,” the CJI remarked earlier, referring to the terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
