SC Seeks Centre’s Stand on Jammu Kashmir’s Statehood Plea

SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday asked the Union government to respond to a petition demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, according to multiple media reports.

A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, along with Justice K. Vinod Chandran, noted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s submission that “several factors” influence such decisions.

The petition, moved by academic Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik, will come up for hearing again in eight weeks.