"The Statehood Plea for Jammu and Kashmir Cannot Be Overlooked, According to the SC, Requires a Careful Assessment Regarding the Ground Conditions"
Supreme Court Hears Plea for Restoration of Statehood in Jammu and Kashmir
On August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of India heard a plea calling for the immediate restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The petitioners argued that the continued Union Territory status of J&K has caused serious democratic deficits and violates the federal structure of India, stating there are no security or violence concerns that justify the delay in restoring statehood.
Jammu and Kashmir's legislative assembly elections were conducted peacefully in October 2024, supporting the argument for statehood restoration without security impediments. Following this, a bill to restore J&K’s statehood was introduced in the Lok Sabha, scheduled for discussion around August 20, 2025, as part of broader amendments involving the Union Territories and constitutional provisions.
However, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah publicly expressed disappointment over the delay and selective application aspects of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
During the court proceedings, the Supreme Court made some notable comments. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, stated that in its 2023 judgment, the top court had trusted the Central government to grant statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after abrogating Article 370. The Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, supported the plea.
Incidents like Pahalgam are not to be ignored, according to the Supreme Court. However, the specific comments made by the Court about the Pahalgam incident could not be found in the current search results. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai stated that he will seek instructions and may give 8 weeks for the case.
The Solicitor General did not provide any comments about why the issue is currently agitated in the case. The bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran presided over the hearing. The National Basketball Association (NBA) Board of Governors, meanwhile, approved the sale of Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion, and All Time Plastics made a strong market debut, with listing gains surging by 14%.
- The petitioners in the Supreme Court case, discussing the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), emphasized that the peaceful legislative assembly elections in October 2024 demonstrated no impediments to restoring statehood.
- In the ongoing discussions about the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah publicly expressed dismay over the delay and selective application aspects, voicing concerns about the potential ramifications for state policy-and-legislation and the region's political landscape.
- During the Supreme Court hearing, the bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran paid attention to incidents like Pahalgam, indicating a need for comprehensive coverage and interpretation in the news regarding these matters. Additionally, a significant judgment about the Pahalgam incident was not found in the current search results.
