Supreme Court Asked to Restore Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood
An application has been submitted to the Supreme Court of India, requesting the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood within two months. This request was made by Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, a college teacher, and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, an activist. They argue that despite assurances from the Solicitor General, no steps have been taken in the past ten months to restore statehood following the abrogation of Article 370.
The application, filed through advocate Soyaib Qureshi, highlights the lack of action since the Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The applicants express concern that the delay in restoring statehood is affecting the rights of Jammu and Kashmir’s residents and violating the federal structure of India.
The application also mentions that the recent peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir indicate no security concerns for restoring statehood. It argues that the delay in restoration reduces the democratic governance of the region and violates the federal principles of the Indian Constitution.
Furthermore, the conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories has resulted in a lesser form of democratic government. The applicants stress the importance of restoring statehood to ensure the region’s autonomy and its role in India’s development.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and rights in the country.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in the northern part of India. It used to be a state but is now a Union Territory.
Statehood -: Statehood means being recognized as a state with its own government and more autonomy. Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood in 2019.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special law that gave Jammu and Kashmir more independence than other states in India. It was removed in 2019, changing the region’s status.
Federal structure -: India’s federal structure means that power is shared between the central government and individual states. Each state has its own government to manage local affairs.
Autonomy -: Autonomy means having the freedom to govern oneself. For Jammu and Kashmir, it means having more control over its own laws and policies.