J&K statehood: After Supreme Court’s question, Centre to make ‘positive statement’ on Aug 31

Srinagar, Aug 29: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood will be restored while Ladakh will remain as Union Territory.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), on the twelfth day of hearing in the  Article 370 case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today submitted before the five-judge constitution bench that J&K’s statehood will be restored while Ladakh will remain as UT.

He informed the Court that he will make a positive statement on restoration of J&K’s statehood on August 31 after a meeting at the highest level.

“Jammu and Kashmir as a union territory is not a permanent feature. However, Ladakh would remain a UT. We will make a statement on this in detail on Thursday and Attorney General and I will visit the government officials and make a statement,” Mehta

The AG made the submission after the Supreme Court sought a time frame to restore J&K’s statehood and a roadmap of this progression.

The SC sought timeframe for restoration of J&K’s statehood after SG submitted that the current status of Jammu and Kashmir as a union territory was not permanent and its statehood will be restored.

The five-judge constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice S.K. Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Surya Kant are hearing a batch of petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370 and reorganization of the erstwhile state of J&K into two UTs.

On August 5, 2019, the Union Government read down Article 370 and reorganized the erstwhile state of J&K into two UTs. Several petitions were filed in the Supreme against the Centre’s decisions.

—(KNO)