Article 370 / 'We are ready to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir at any time', Center replied in the Supreme Court

Article 370: The Central Government has filed a reply in the Supreme Court regarding the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The hearing on the petitions filed against the abolition of Article 370 was held in the Supreme Court today for the 13th day. On behalf of the Central Government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court, we are ready to conduct elections in the Union Territory anytime, the voter list is almost ready but first panchayat elections will be conducted.

What did you say about restoring full statehood again?

The SG further said that the State Election Commission and the Central Election Commission will take a decision in this regard. The elections to the District Development Council have already been held. Now Panchayat elections will be held soon. Leh Hill Development Council elections have been held. These elections of Kargil will be held in September. He also said in the Supreme Court that as far as restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, the process has started but no one can give a definite time limit for this.

Earlier, in the 12th day of hearing held on August 29, the Supreme Court had asked the Central Government as to how much time will it take for Jammu and Kashmir to get the status of a state again. A reply has been filed by the Center regarding this today.

In the last hearing, the court had asked – What is the timeframe for forming the state?

In the last hearing, the Central Government had told the Supreme Court that the government will restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir but Ladakh will remain a Union Territory. On behalf of the Centre, SG Tushar Mehta had told the Supreme Court that he would give a positive statement in this regard on Thursday. During this, he had told the court that Jammu and Kashmir has been temporarily divided into two union territories (Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh). Ladakh will remain a Union Territory, but Jammu and Kashmir will soon be made a state again.

Let us tell you that while hearing the petitions filed against the abolition of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court had asked the Central Government to set a time limit for restoring electoral democracy in the state. The top court also said that the current system should end. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central Government in the Supreme Court, said that the status of Union Territory given to Jammu and Kashmir is not a permanent thing. The government has presented its views on this complex issue in the court today.