Supreme Court to hear plea for Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi, Jul 22: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a plea seeking imposition of Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, under a provision of J&K Constitution, due to the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur directed that the petition filed by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) be listed next week.

The plea was mentioned before the bench by the counsel for JKNPP who said that Jammu and Kashmir has been "under siege of the security forces and the police for the past two weeks resulting in a total chaos, anarchy and disorder in the entire valley of Kashmir".

The counsel said that Governor's rule under section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir should be imposed.

The petition sought a direction to the Governor to dissolve the Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir "which has failed to discharge its duties and functions".

The bench also comprising justices FML Kalifulla and A M Khanwilkar asked the petitioners why they did not approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for remedy. The counsel said that the Jammu and Kashmir High Court "has been locked up" as well and they can't go anywhere else.

"The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has been chaotic and there is no public order in existence as such." It said "there is literally rule of the gun and the people in the Valley have no access to even water or medical stores.

"The people in Jammu and Kashmir have been forced to stay inside their house and homes without food, medicines or other essential commodities needed for human survival," it alleged.

The plea sought direction to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to intervene under section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and take over the administration in the state in the interest of security, safety and fundamental rights of the Indian citizens.

PTI