The Supreme Court will start hearing the batch of pleas against the abrogation of Article 370 -- which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, from August 2. The five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was slated to hear the matter today and take up the Centre’s affidavit defending the decision. The bench also fixed July 27 as deadline for filing of documents, written submissions by parties.
Earlier, the Centre on Monday submitted its affidavit to the apex court defending the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. Informing the Supreme Court, the Centre said that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an “unprecedented” era of peace, progress, and prosperity, with street violence, orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks, becoming "a thing of the past", news agency PTI reported.
The Union government said that organized stone pelting incidents connected with terrorism-separatist agenda, which were as high as 1,767 in 2018 has come down to zero in 2023 till date, and casualty of security personnel has shown a 65.9 percent decline in 2022 as compared to 2018.
It contended that the "historic constitutional step" being challenged has brought unprecedented development, progress, security and stability to the region, which was often missing during the old Article 370 regime. It is submitted that the same has been possible due to the policy of the Union of India of ensuring peace, prosperity and progress in the region, the affidavit said.
“It is submitted that the hosting of G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting at Srinagar in the month of May 2023, was a watershed event in the history of valley tourism and the country proudly displayed its resolute commitment to the world that secessionist terrorist region can be converted into a region where even international dignitaries can be invited and global events can be held." The Centre said after the historic changes, the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed profound “ameliorative, affirmative and progressive changes in last four years encompassing its entire governance - including the developmental activities, public administration and security matters which has positively impacted every resident irrespective of caste, creed or religion”.
It said bandhs and stone pelting (together), engineered, financed and forced by the separatist-terrorist networks, had tremendous negative ripple effects on economy and the society as a whole.
“It is submitted that the defining characteristic of the security situation in the region, which has a direct bearing on the day-to-day life of common citizens is 'street violence' which was a methodical and regular phenomenon. The street violence, engineered and orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks has now become thing of the past. The organized stone pelting incidents connected with terrorism-separatist agenda, which were as high as 1,767 in the year 2018 has come down to zero in the year 2023 till date,” the Centre said in its 20-page affidavit, as per PTI.