Article 370's abrogation: SC to hear pleas from August 2
The Supreme Court's five-judge Constitutional Bench on Tuesday said that it would hear the batch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) from August 2. It appointed two advocates as nodal counsels for preparing the common convenience compilation of documents and said the hearing would be held on a day-to-day basis except Monday and Friday.
Why does this story matter?
In 2019, the government abrogated Article 370, revoking the special status as well as the statehood of J&K. The state was bifurcated into two union territories—J&K and Ladakh. The Centre told the SC that the abrogation of Article 370 brought unprecedented progress and security to J&K. As per government data, the union territory has seen 541 terror incidents since the revocation.
SC allows deletion of Shehla Rashid, Shah Faesal's names
Activist Shehla Rashid and IAS officer Shah Faesal withdrew their petitions challenging the scrapping of Article 370 after the bench allowed their names to be deleted from the list of petitioners. The apex court fixed July 27 as the deadline for the parties to file documents or written submissions and said that no further additions to the convenience compilation will be permitted thereafter.
Expect SC to answer injustice: Omar Abdullah
Meanwhile, J&K's former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, "We have been waiting for this day since 2019 as we feel our case is strong." He added, "We expect...the injustice meted out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August 2019, the cheating, the flouting of the law, be answered by the Supreme Court."
Assembly elections unlikely in near future: Report
Notably, residents of J&K have been demanding assembly elections, as promised by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the bifurcation. It was reported earlier this year that the elections could be conducted in April-May or September-October. However, The Indian Express recently reported that J&K may not see polls in the near future as the BJP-led Centre is focused on developing it first.
J&K Assembly disbanded after BJP withdrew support to PDP
Article 370 of the Constitution granted certain autonomy to the erstwhile state of J&K, including the power to have its own constitution. The J&K Legislative Assembly was disbanded in 2018 after the BJP withdrew support to the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). The abrogation of Article 370 stripped J&K's autonomy to govern itself as a state.
