Live: It has been argued that Article 370 cannot be scrapped unilaterally by the Centre.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court will take a call on the constitutional validity of the Centre’s move to scrap ‘Article 370’, a special status granted to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre in 2019 scrapped the special status and split the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The verdict from a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud comes in response to a slew of petitions challenging the Centre’s move four years ago. After a 16-day-long hearing, the Supreme Court reserved it judgment on September 5.
The petitioners have argued that Article 370 cannot be scrapped unilaterally by the Centre, since the powers of the Constituent Assembly were vested in the Jammu and Kashmir legislature after it was dissolved in 1957.
Here are the Live Updates on the big story:
Get The HindkeshariUpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops.
Courts
Some battles are fought to be lost
For history must record the uncomfortable facts for generations to know
The right and wrong of institutional actions will be debated for years to come
History alone is the final arbiter
of the moral compass of historic decisions– Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) December 11, 2023
“The right and wrong of institutional actions will be debated for years to come. History alone is the final arbiter of the moral compass of historic decisions,” he posted on X.
Live Updates: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was put under house arrest on Monday ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that conferred a special status on Jammu and Kashmir, her party said.
“Even before Supreme Court judgement is pronounced, police has sealed the doors of the residence of PDP president @MehboobaMufti and put her under illegal house arrest,” the party said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, police did not allow journalists to gather near National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah’s residence at Gupkar here, officials said.
A posse of police personnel was deployed at the entry point of Gupkar Road and journalists were not allowed anywhere near the residence of the NC leaders.
Omar Abdullah lives with his father after he vacated his official residence in October 2020.
While Farooq Abdullah, who is the Member of Parliament from Srinagar, is in Delhi for the ongoing Parliament session, his son is in the valley.
Movement of vehicles escorting or carrying VIPs and protected persons in “troublesome areas” should also be avoided, an advisory issued by the inspector general of police, Kashmir zone to all security forces and senior superintendents of police said.
Security was stepped up across Jammu and Kashmir today ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Security forces have been deployed at many places in the valley to maintain law and order, they added.
Checkpoints have been set up in and around Srinagar city and random frisking and checking of vehicles and people are being done, the officials said.
Checkpoints have also been set up at a few places in other districts of Kashmir.
However, there is no restriction on the movement of people anywhere in the valley, the officials said.
“Life is going on normally. Shops and other business establishments opened in the morning as usual. There are no restrictions anywhere,” one of them said.
The officials said the security agencies are keeping a hawk’s eye on the situation and attempts to disturb peace will be dealt with sternly.
The Cyber Police, Kashmir, has advised social media users to use the platforms responsibly and refrain from sharing rumours, fake news, hate speeches or obscene, violent and defamatory content.
“Moreover, social media users are cautioned not to indulge in propagation of terrorist and secessionist ideology and false narrative,” the Cyber Police said in an advisory.
Article 370 Verdict Live: The Supreme Court proceedings in the matter on the constitutional validity of Centre’s move to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status will be live-streamed by the court.
The hearing in the Supreme Court is expected to start around 10:30 am
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said his party will not disturb the peace in Jammu and Kashmir even in case of an adverse verdict from the Supreme Court on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and will continue its fight per the law.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the court’s verdict should be clear that the decision taken by the BJP-led central government was “illegal”.
The BJP said that there should not be any politics on the Supreme Court ruling and everyone should respect it.
Another former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed hope that the Supreme Court will deliver a verdict in favour of the people.
The Centre has argued that its decisions were taken within the legal framework. It has also contended that the mainstreaming of Jammu and Kashmir has reduced terrorism and provided a level playing field.
Over the last four years, it has helped move the erstwhile state on the fast-track to development, the government has argued.
The Supreme Court has questioned who can recommend the revocation of Article 370. Under the rules, a nod is required from the Constituent Assembly to scrap Article 370, which the Constitution held temporarily. The Supreme Court has also asked how the Article became permanent after the Constituent Assembly was dissolved.