Plea in SC seeks early hearing of petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370

New Delhi, Nov 3 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking early hearing of petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to revoke the provisions of the Constitution’s Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, last year.
The application moved by Shakir Shabir, one of the petitioners in the matter, argued that against the backdrop of repeated internet shutdowns, along with other restrictions are damaging the economy, which is impacting the people of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The purported intent of the impugned order has continually been portrayed to have been for the betterment of the populace of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir… the truth remains that it is the very people who are presently suffering in the midst,” it said.
Shabir sought early listing of the petitions against the Centre’s decision before a Constitution bench for further hearing.
In March, before it directed restricted functioning through video conferencing amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the top court had said the schedule of hearing on these petitions would depend on the hearing by a 9-judge bench in the Sabarimala case, which was expected to start after the Holi break.
But, after the announcement of the lockdown, the top court decided to take up only urgent matter virtually.