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Supreme Court Refers Pleas Against Article 370 Amendments To Five-Judge Constitution Bench

The five-judge constitution bench will hear all petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 in October.

Vegetable vendors sit in boats on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. (Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg)
Vegetable vendors sit in boats on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. (Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg)

The Supreme Court today referred the pleas challenging the validity of removal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir to a five-judge constitution bench, weeks after the top court said it won’t interfere in the curfew and restrictions imposed in the valley and the government must be allowed to take steps to restore normalcy.

The apex court bench—that was headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprised Justice SA Bobde and Justice Abdul Nazeer—also issued a notice to the central government. Earlier, the government had said no notice should be issued in the matter given its international impact.

The five-judge bench—the composition of which will be known in due course—will hear all petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 in October.

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced a resolution to amend Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir administrative autonomy. The amendment also seeks to split the state—Jammu and Kashmir as a union territory with legislative powers and Ladakh as a union territory without legislative powers.

Opinion
The Spirit Of Article 370 

Restrictions On Working Journalists

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition filed by Anuradha Bhasin, executive editor of Kashmir Times, against the restrictions imposed on working of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Another plea by Tehseen Poonawalla, a social activist who sought relaxation of restrictions for the public in Jammu and Kashmir, will also be taken up by the court.

The apex court has asked the central government to reply within seven days on both the petitions.

Relief For Kashmiri Student

The Supreme Court today heard a petition filed by Kashmiri student Mohammad Aleem Sayeed, who had approached the nation’s apex decision-making body after he was unable to get in touch with his parents in Kashmir following the lockdown.

The top court granted Sayeed permission and directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to facilitate the visit. It also directed the petitioner to file an affidavit in the court on his return.

Sitaram Yechury Granted Permission

The apex court today allowed Sitaram Yechury, a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), to travel to Kashmir to meet party member Yousuf Tarigami.

The court, however, directed Yechury to ensure the visit must not be undertaken for any political purpose but only to meet Tarigami.