The special Constitutional bench said one week time would be given to the petitioners to file their replies to counter-affidavit that would be filed by the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir administration within four weeks.
A security personnel stands guard to block a road near closed shops while strict restrictions are imposed during a lockdown in Srinagar on September 28, 2019. (Photo by Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP)
The Supreme Court will commence hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 on November 14. The court also put an embargo on fresh pleas in this case on Tuesday.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice NV Ramana allowed the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to file counter-affidavits on petitions challenging scrapping of Article 370. The Constitutional bench was specially constitued by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who transferred all the petitions pending before it in the case.
The Supreme Court refused the plea of petitioners that not more than 2 weeks be given to the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir administration for filing counter-affidavits.
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The bench said one week time would be given to the petitioners to file their replies to counter-affidavit that would be filed by the Centre and Jammu and 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.
Pleas have been filed by Anuradha Bhasin, executive editor of Kashmir Times newspaper, habeas corpus petition by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury questioning detention of party leader Yusuf Tarigami, and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad seeking permission to travel to the state. Petitions have also been filed by former IAS officer Shah Faesal, activist Shehla Rashid, and advocates Shakir Shabir, ML Sharma, Vineet Dhanda, among others.
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