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J&K parties welcome move

Srinagar, Jul 03:  The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions challenging abrogation of the Article 370 on July 11.

A constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud will take up on July 11 a batch of petitions challenging abrogation of the Article 370 and reorganization of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories.

According to a notice issued by the Supreme Court, the constitution bench comprising the Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant will take up the petitions on July 11(Tuesday) at 10:30 AM “for directions”.

The petitions challenging August 5, 2019 decisions came up for hearing last time in the Supreme Court on March 2, 2020.

Several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against abrogation of the Article 370 and reorganization of erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir into two UTs.

Meanwhile, political parties in Jammu & Kashmir have welcomed the move.

“Welcome Hon’ble SC’s decision to finally hear petitions pending since 2019 challenging the illegal abrogation of Article 370.  I hope justice is upheld & delivered for the people of J&K. The SC ruling on Article 370 maintained that the provision can be abrogated only on the recommendation of the J&K constituent assembly,” former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said that he is looking forward to the Supreme Court hearings on Article 370.

“Finally the bench is constituted. I look forward to the hearings beginning in right earnest now,” Omar tweeted.

While welcoming the move, senior leader of CPI(M) and spokesperson of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said that August 5 decisions were taken without consent of the  people of J&K.

“Welcoming the decision of the constitutional bench, albeit delayed, to hear a clutch of petitions, challenging the abrogation of article 370 & division of historic state. The move was an assault on the constitutional order & was taken without the consent of the people,” he said.(KNO)