India’s Supreme Court has asked the Narendra Modi-led government if there was a “timeframe” and a “roadmap of progression” to restore the special status of held Kashmir, it merged on Tuesday.
The court said this after the incumbent government told it the bifurcation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir into UTs was “temporary”.
The Indian top court was hearing a batch of petitions that challenged the abrogation of Article 370 in the Indian Constitution in IIOJK on Tuesday. More than 20 petitions were filed questioning the constitutional validity of the Indian government’s August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370.
During the hearing today, The Indian Express quoted the CJI as asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: “We understand that these are matters of national security… the preservation of the nation itself is the overriding concern. But without putting you in a bind, you and the attorney general may seek instructions on the highest level— is there a timeframe in view? Is there a roadmap?”
According to the publication, Mehta is representing the Indian government and the administration of held Kashmir.
In his arguments, Mehta touched on the reorganisation of states and told the bench about decisions taken with regard to held Kashmir in the aftermath of the Article 370 changes.
