Sunil Sonkar
NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court of India has announced the commencement of day-to-day hearings for the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the amendments made to Article 370 of the Constitution. Article 370 had granted special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir before its reorganization into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Under the leadership of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, a five-judge Constitution bench initiated the proceedings by addressing the procedural formalities in preparation for the upcoming substantive hearings.
In the course of the session, the court made a ruling to remove the name of Hindal Haidar Tyabji from the list of petitioners. The decision was prompted by the revelation that Mr. Tyabji had unfortunately passed away. This step was taken to maintain the accuracy and up-to-date status of the list of petitioners involved in the case.
The court reviewed the Centre’s affidavit, which hailed the changes to Article 370 as “historic” and highlighted their positive impact on development, progress, and security in the region.
The bench set August 2 as the official start date for the day-to-day hearings, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 10:30 am. The hearings will continue on consecutive days, except for miscellaneous days when the court hears other matters. This approach indicates the significance and urgency the court attaches to the matter.
Some petitioners sought to submit additional affidavits during the hearing, but Justice S K Kaul raised doubts about their relevance. The court reviewed the Centre’s affidavit, which hailed the changes to Article 370 as “historic” and highlighted their positive impact on development, progress, and security in the region.
