India’s Supreme Court has raised a question to the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if there is a timeframe and roadmap to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. This query was made during a hearing on petitions challenging the reading down of Article 370 of the Indian constitution. The article granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing people from other parts of India to acquire property and settle permanently in the region.
The move to revoke Article 370 was criticized by Kashmiris, international organizations, and critics of India’s Hindu nationalist-led government, who viewed it as an attempt to change the demographics of the Muslim-majority region by settling Hindu individuals there.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud posed the question to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, stating that while national security is a priority, the court is interested to know if there is a timeframe and roadmap for the restoration of special status. Mehta, representing the Indian government and the administration of Jammu and Kashmir, talked about the reorganization of states and decisions taken regarding the region after the Article 370 changes.
The Chief Justice also pointed out the possibility of the Indian parliament converting a state into a union territory for a limited period of time in the interest of national security. The court argued that this temporary status should be reverted back to statehood once the situation stabilizes.
Mehta highlighted that there was sufficient evidence to establish that the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir is subservient to the constitution of India. He also mentioned that while the legislative assembly of the state was dissolved on November 21, 2018, there were no challenges to this dissolution.
After hearing the arguments, the Chief Justice acknowledged the progression that has already taken place and requested Mehta to present a roadmap explaining the way forward.
The hearing sheds light on an important issue that affects the region and its people. The Supreme Court’s inquiry into the timeframe and roadmap reflects the court’s commitment to transparency and upholding the interests of all parties involved. It remains to be seen how the government will respond and what steps will be taken to address the concerns raised during this hearing.