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Article 370: Supreme Court Fixes Nov. 14 For Hearing On Constitutional Validity Of Centre’s Decision

The top court refused the plea of petitioners that not more than 2 weeks be given for filing counter-affidavits.

A view of the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (Source: PTI) 
A view of the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (Source: PTI) 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed Nov. 14 to commence hearing on a batch of petitions challenging constitutional validity of the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu & Kashmir.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice NV Ramana allowed the Centre and the Jammu & Kashmir administration to file counter-affidavits on petitions challenging scrapping of Article 370. The top court refused the plea of petitioners that not more than 2 weeks be given to the Centre and J&K administration for filing counter-affidavits.

The apex court also put an embargo on filing of any fresh writ petition challenging constitutional validity on abrogation of Article 370. The bench said one week time would be for the petitioners to file their replies to the counter-affidavit that would be filed by the Centre and Jammu & Kashmir administration within four weeks.

"We have to allow the Centre and the J&K administration to file counter-affidavit otherwise we can't decide the matter," the bench also comprising justices SK Kaul, R Subhash Reddy, BR Gavai and Surya Kant said.

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