Article 370 hearing: Ready For J&K Elections Anytime, Centre Tells SC

The central government on Thursday conveyed to the Supreme Court its preparedness to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir without delay. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, disclosed that the voter list update process has reached an advanced stage.

Mehta further indicated that the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are anticipated to occur following panchayat and municipal polls. However, he clarified that the sequence of these elections is contingent upon the decisions of the State Election Commission and the Central Election Commission.

Mehta highlighted that the process of hill development in J&K is underway and that "it will be held soon".

"For kargil and leh where hill development will be held," he said.

On August 29, the Centre had told the top court that the union territory status of Jammu and Kashmir is not a "permanent thing" and that it will make an elaborate statement on the vexatious political issue in the court on August 31.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre for the first time to specify a timeframe for the restoration of electoral democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the present arrangement "has to come to an end".

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice NV Ramana, was hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The court's direction came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench that the Centre was ready for elections "anytime now" in Jammu and Kashmir.

The court asked the Centre to file an affidavit by September 15, specifying the time frame for holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The court also asked the Centre to explain why it had not yet appointed a governor for Jammu and Kashmir.

The Centre had abolished the post of governor in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.