NEW DELHI: The central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is prepared for elections in Jammu and Kashmir at any time now. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed to the top court that the process of updating the voters’ list is currently underway and substantial work is completed.
The Centre, however, said though steps to revert J&K into a state has already been implemented gradually, it cannot provide an exact time frame for restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
The call for elections in J&K will be under the jurisdiction of both the state Election Commission and the Union Election Commission, the Solicitor General informed a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.
SG Mehta told the court that J&K polls will be held in three stages – first at the panchayat level, second municipal and then legislative assembly elections.
Notably, the elections for the District Development Council have already taken place. Additionally, the upcoming Panchayat elections are scheduled to take place shortly, Mehta said.
The elections for Leh Hill Development Council have concluded, while the elections for Kargil are set to be held in September, he added.
Regarding the suspension of ZA Bhat shortly after he personally argued against the Centre’s decision of August 5, 2019, in the Supreme Court, the SG told the SC that “some advice” had been given to the J&K administration and that he would seek instructions on the latest development on the issue.
Earlier on Tuesday, the central government informed the apex court that the bifurcating of Jammu & Kashmir into the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is a temporary measure and that J&K’s status as a Union Territory will eventually be reversed to that of a state in the future when things will get normal.
The central government’s response was conveyed to the court by SG Tushar Mehta, after a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, heard the pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370.
The Centre, however, said though steps to revert J&K into a state has already been implemented gradually, it cannot provide an exact time frame for restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
The call for elections in J&K will be under the jurisdiction of both the state Election Commission and the Union Election Commission, the Solicitor General informed a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.
SG Mehta told the court that J&K polls will be held in three stages – first at the panchayat level, second municipal and then legislative assembly elections.
Notably, the elections for the District Development Council have already taken place. Additionally, the upcoming Panchayat elections are scheduled to take place shortly, Mehta said.
The elections for Leh Hill Development Council have concluded, while the elections for Kargil are set to be held in September, he added.
Regarding the suspension of ZA Bhat shortly after he personally argued against the Centre’s decision of August 5, 2019, in the Supreme Court, the SG told the SC that “some advice” had been given to the J&K administration and that he would seek instructions on the latest development on the issue.
Earlier on Tuesday, the central government informed the apex court that the bifurcating of Jammu & Kashmir into the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is a temporary measure and that J&K’s status as a Union Territory will eventually be reversed to that of a state in the future when things will get normal.
The central government’s response was conveyed to the court by SG Tushar Mehta, after a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, heard the pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370.
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