New Delhi: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said he expected justice from the Supreme Court as the apex court on Wednesday started hearing petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to the media, the former chief minister said, “We tried explaining to the Chief Justice of India and his associate judge, our perspective of what happened on 5th August 2019 and what we are expecting from the Supreme Court. The CJI and his associate judge also raised several questions.”
“Whatever happened with Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 was wrong. This is all about the Constitution. About the country's and Jammu and Kashmir’s Constitution. We have got the opportunity to put forth our grievances. We expect justice like any other citizens of the country. We hope that the top court sees this from our perspective...We are talking about the Constitution and not its politics...This is a big issue for Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar Abdullah said.
According to reports, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud started day-to-day hearing in the matter on Wednesday. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is leading the arguments on behalf of the petitioners challenging the abrogation. Sibal said he will continue his submissions till Thursday.
It is to be noted that on August 5, 2019, the Centre issued a notification repealing Article 370 and it also stripped the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Since then, several pleas have been filed challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, that split the erstwhile state into Union Territories.