NewzVille Desk
The Supreme Court has granted the Central government four weeks to submit its response on the demand for restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The direction came during a hearing on Friday before a bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, which heard arguments from both the petitioners and the Centre.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of the matter, the CJI observed that recent security developments, including the terror attack in Pahalgam, must be taken into account while assessing the timeline for restoring statehood to the Union Territory.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan argued that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood was revoked in 2019, and despite the passage of several years and the conduct of elections, the status has not been reinstated. “A significant amount of time has passed, and we are now in 2025,” he noted.
In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cited complex ground realities, stating, “Not only water, but a great deal of blood has flowed since then.” He highlighted that elections were held peacefully and that consultations between the Union and UT governments are ongoing.
He further emphasized that prevailing security concerns, including incidents like the one in Pahalgam, must be carefully weighed before any decision on statehood is taken.
After hearing all sides, the bench granted the Centre four weeks to file its detailed reply on the matter.
