Supreme Court Seeks Timeframe From Centre For Restoration Of Statehood For J&K

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (29 August) asked the government for a timeframe to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

In August 2019 the government had scrapped Article 370 - which gave J&K special status - and split the state into two union territories - J&K and Ladakh.

The government had earlier assured critics of its move on Article 370 that statehood would restored as soon as possible.

After hearing the arguments of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during a hearing on the abrogation of article 370, the Supreme Court said restoration of democracy is important.

Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the bifurcation of J&K into UTs was temporary.

The Solicitor General responded that measures are being taken to reach the goal.

The Supreme Court also expressed its willingness to give allowance to Parliament's decision of converting J&K into two UTs in the national interest.

However, the court has asked the Union government to specify the anticipated timeline it has in view for the restoration of statehood to J&K.

It observed that "restoration of democracy is important", reports Times of India.

"After the situation returns to normalcy, we want it to become as state again," Mehta responded.