Article 370: SC fixes Nov 14 for hearing on constitutional validity of Centre's decision

The five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 1) fixed November 14 to commence hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The bench headed by Justice N V Ramana allowed the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to file counter-affidavits on petitions challenging scrapping of Article 370.

Rejecting the plea of the petitioners that not more than 2 weeks be given to the Centre and J&K administration for filing counter-affidavits, the apex court granted four weeks’ time to the Centre and the J&K administration to file their counter-affidavits.

The apex court also placed an embargo on filing of any fresh writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity on abrogation of Article 370.

The bench added that one-week time would be given to the petitioners to file their replies to the counter-affidavits of the Centre and J&K dispensation.”We have to allow the Centre and the J&K administration to file counter-affidavit otherwise we can’t decide the matter,” the bench also comprising justices S K Kaul, R Subhash Reddy, B R Gavai and Surya Kant said.