Kashmir Issue: SC Raps Lawyer For Defective Plea Against Article 370 Repeal; Adjourns Hearing

Responding to the matter, the bench of Judges said that they will hear the matter later as it is difficult for us to break the Ayodhya bench which is conducting hearings on a daily basis.

SC said the petition against Centre's move on Artcile 370 has 'no meaning'. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday heard the petition posing legal challenges to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state in two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. However, the hearing was adjourned minutes after it started as the top court found several defects in the pleas filed by the petitioners. According to reports, a total of seven petitions have been filed in the matter out of which four are still defective. SC has adjourned all Kashmir cases as defective petitions need to be corrected. A Special Bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices SA Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer heard the petition. It is also being learnt that the Solicitor General has told the SC that urgent hearing on this matter will have ill effects. Responding to the matter, the bench of Judges said that they will hear the matter later as it is difficult for us to break the Ayodhya bench which is conducting hearings on a daily basis. SC, while hearing the plea on Kashmir issue, questioned lawyer petitioner ML Sharma and said his petition against Centre's move on Artcile 370 has 'no meaning'. ALSO READ | UN Security Council Likely To Discuss Kashmir Behind Closed Doors Today: Reports "What kind of petition is this? It could have been dismissed but there are 5 other pleas with registry," SC told Sharma. Further rapping the lawyer, Gogoi said, " I have spent 30 minutes reading petition on Article 370 but could not make out anything." The top court has asked the lawyer to cure defects in the petition and file it again. However, there has been no official confirmation on the next date of hearing. At least 6 petitions are pending before apex court which challenges several aspects of the actions of BJP-led Central government on Jammu and Kashmir issue. While some petitions challenge the Presidential orders bringing about the Constitutional amendments and the Reorganisation Act, other have challenged the curfew and restrictions on communication and movement imposed in Kashmir by the Centre. ALSO READ | Jammu & Kashmir Government Offices To Be Open From Today, Easing Of Public Curbs To Be Mulled After Days' Namaaz National Conference MPs Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, advocate Shakir Sahbirand and advocate ML Sharma have challenged the validity of the Presidential orders in the valley. Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla has challenged the curfew imposed in Kashmir and the Executive Editor of Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin has challenged the restrictions on telecommunication, internet and freedom of movement.