Overview

• A division bench of Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Rajesh Sekhri permitted Congress leader Ravinder Sharma to file a rejoinder to the Centre’s affidavit by Sept. 26
• The Ministry of Home Affairs’ affidavit defends the L-G’s authority to nominate five MLAs as a discretionary power that bypasses the council of ministers’ advice
• Sharma’s petition challenges the constitutional validity of sections 15, 15-A and 15-B of the Reorganisation Act, which allow nominations beyond the Assembly’s sanctioned strength
• Government lawyers argue that the nomination slots secure representation for displaced Kashmiri migrants, persons from Pakistan-occupied J&K and other under-represented groups
• The court will reconvene on Sept. 26 to assess Sharma’s rejoinder and decide whether to uphold or strike down the contested nomination provisions