Unable to give exact date when J&K Statehood would be restored, Centre tells SC

Centre unable to give exact time for J&K Statehood restoration; Union Territory status a “temporary phenomenon”; Court pushes govt to commit to time frame; progress being made; J&K ready for polls; constitutional challenge to abrogation of Article 370 to be met on constitutional grounds; 5,000 people kept under house arrest.

The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that it is unable to give an “exact time” by which Statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir. However, it added that the Union Territory status is a “temporary phenomenon”.

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Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Tuesday gave the Centre leeway to claim it had converted Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory for a “stipulated period” in order to protect national security, but pushed the government to commit to a time frame by which it would be restored to a full-fledged State.

The inability to give an exact time is due to repeated and consistent disturbances that married the erstwhile State for decades together, the government said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta noted that progress is being made to make it a State again.

The Centre also said that Jammu and Kashmir is ready for polls any time now. Mr. Mehta said three elections are due soon — panchayat, municipality and State legislative assembly elections

The Court said figures and facts of investments made, “nil” incidents of terrorism, infiltration and terrorism will not affect the constitutional challenge to the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution

The constitutional challenge to the abrogation of Article 370 will be met on constitutional grounds, CJI said