August 5, 2019 and today's date will go down in history: SG Tushar Mehta

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the Centre's key counsel in defending the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, on Monday said the Supreme Court verdict upholding the government's August 5, 2019 decision will go down in the history of the country.

As the only lawyer involved in the process of abrogation of Article 370 before August 5, 2019 and having led the arguments before the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, it is a historical day for him too, Mehta said.

"August 5, 2019 and today's date will go down in the history of India, when a Himalayan constitutional blunder of the past with gigantic proportion was ultimately corrected by the government.

"It is only the iron will of our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and the resolute decisiveness and brilliant strategy of our Home Minister Amit Shahji that made this historic decision possible. The nation will forever remain indebted to them," he said.

Mehta said he had the good fortune of witnessing and being a part of the entire process that exhibited their exemplary resolve, coupled with the minute coordination of the smallest details and flawless and scientific stewardship of the parliamentary process and floor management inside the House.

"The judicial adjudication by the Supreme Court is also equally historic and rare. A five-judge Constitution bench decided the matter that consisted of all five seniormost judges -- Justice D Y Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India, Justice S K Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Bhushan R Gavai and Justice Surya Kant -- a historic bench presided by the Chief Justice of India and also comprising three future chief justices of India. All five are legendary judges who are undisputably intellectual giants," he said in a statement.

The top law officer of the country said a very patient hearing was given by the bench to all sides for more than three weeks.

"And today comes a judgment which will go down in the history of this great country exhibiting astounding scholarship, concern for rule of law and a visible concern for the fundamental rights of equality of every resident of Jammu and Kashmir irrespective of religion, sex, caste or creed," he said.