Overview

• The bench of CJI B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran is hearing applications today, including MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone’s plea and filings by Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik.
• Applicants contend UT elections concluded on October 8, 2024 and that statehood remains unrestored despite a year of elected governance.
• A December 11, 2023 Constitution Bench upheld the Article 370 abrogation but directed that statehood be restored “at the earliest” and declined to rule on the Reorganisation Act after a government assurance.
• The Centre was given two months on August 14 to file its reply; no response had been filed by the hearing date, according to Daily Excelsior.
• Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary urged the Court to consider public expectations, while the J&K Congress set an October 18 hunger strike to press for full statehood.