A new plea has been filed in the Supreme Court of India, seeking urgent restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. This plea, filed by Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, argues that the Union government has delayed taking any concrete steps despite assurances that statehood would be restored following the abrogation of Article 370.
The petitioners emphasized that the prolonged status of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory is severely impacting the democratic rights of its citizens and the federal structure of the nation.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud agreed to list the case for hearing, adding urgency to the matter. The plea highlights that, despite the peaceful conduct of legislative assembly elections in October 2024, the delay in restoring statehood has reduced Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic representation and violates the constitutional principle of federalism.
The petitioners urge that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir must be restored within a time-bound period, warning that further delays could harm both the region’s development and its democratic rights.
Additionally, the petition draws attention to the peaceful nature of the recent assembly elections and the upcoming Panchayat polls, arguing that there are no security concerns to justify the delay.
This marks an important milestone in the ongoing debate surrounding the constitutional and political future of Jammu and Kashmir. With the Supreme Court agreeing to take up the matter, the people of the region are hopeful that their full democratic status will soon be restored.
This case is significant in the broader context of Indian politics, as Jammu and Kashmir remains the only former state that has been converted into a Union Territory without a constitutional amendment. Many are closely watching for the court’s decision, which could reshape the political landscape of the region.