Hearing the plea application seeking restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court of India has sought a response from the Centre. The Top court also said that the ground situation in the Union Territory needs to be taken into account, as incidents like the Pahalgam attack can not be ignored.

“You also have to take into consideration the ground realities; you cannot ignore what has happened in Pahalgam," said the Supreme Court.

The remark came after, Solicitor General, presenting the central government, said, “We assured statehood after elections. There is a peculiar position of this part of our country. I don’t know why this issue this agitated now. This particular State is not the correct State to muddy the water. I will still seek instructions. 8 weeks may be given."

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A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran heard the matter and asked the centre to submit its response on the subject within 8 weeks.

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea from college teacher Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and activist Khurshid Ahmad Malik, who claim that the continued denial of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is severely impacting citizens' rights. 

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On August 5, 2019, the central government split the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Jammu and Kashmir is a UT with an assembly, while Ladakh is without an assembly. 

The Supreme Court of India has also asked the centre to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s erstwhile state status. 

Earlier, the top court had held the union government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, which provided special status to former state of Jammu and Kashmir.