Central Government Confirms Preparedness For Immediate Jammu And Kashmir Polls, Informs Supreme Court

During today’s session at the Supreme Court, the Centre conveyed that elections in Jammu and Kashmir could be held promptly, with the final call resting with the Election Commission and the state’s poll panel. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, addressing a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, detailed a three-stage election plan for the region: starting with panchayat polls, followed by municipal polls, and culminating in legislative assembly polls.

These remarks were made in the context of petitions challenging the revocation of Article 370. The Centre, defending the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, underlined its unique circumstances. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court underscored the urgency of reinstating democratic processes in the region, which has been devoid of an elected government since June 2018.

Despite its commitment to elections, the Centre refrained from specifying a timeline for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The central focus of the arguments remains centered on whether the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent division into two union territories, J&K and Ladakh, followed proper procedures.

Discontent has surfaced among Ladakh’s leaders and petitioners following the Solicitor General’s announcement that Ladakh will continue as a Union Territory. Over the past couple of years, widespread protests in Ladakh have called for regional statehood.

Since the annulment of Article 370 in August 2019, the Centre’s position has been to restore statehood at an appropriate juncture. Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated this stance, although no definitive timeline has been established for the transition.