New Delhi, August 5, 2025 — The Supreme Court is set to hear a fresh plea on August 8 seeking directions to the Union Government for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, six years after its special status was revoked under Article 370.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the matter before a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran on Monday, requesting that the case remain listed for the upcoming hearing. The Chief Justice acknowledged the request and confirmed the matter would be taken up.
The petitioners, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, have filed an application urging the court to ensure that the central government fulfills its commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. They argue that the delay in doing so undermines the democratic structure of the region and violates the principles of federalism.
In December 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Centre’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370. However, it had also directed the government to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, and to restore statehood “at the earliest.”
The new application contends that despite the court’s direction and repeated assurances by the government, there has been no concrete timeline or visible progress on restoring statehood. The petitioners emphasize that the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to be denied full democratic rights and representation.
The upcoming hearing gains significance as it coincides with the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. The plea is expected to push for a definitive timeline for restoring statehood and hold the government accountable to its constitutional obligations.