Ghulam Nabi Azad hopes for SC verdict favouring Article 370 restoration

SRINAGAR — Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that he is hopeful that the Supreme Court will pronounce the verdict on Article 370 in favour of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the people of J&K have been waiting for more than four years for justice from the apex court. “People of J&K were waiting for the last four years for the Supreme Court to pronounce the decision on pleas challenging the decision taken on August 5, 2019 by the Government of India to abrogate the special status of J&K under Article 370 and 35(A). These rights were snatched from us before four years and people have pinned hope on SC to get justice from there,” Azad told reporters here, as per the news agency KNS.

He said the special provision was imperative for Jammu and Kashmir as it was kept intact by Maharaja Hari Singh from his times. “Maharaja Hari Singh kept this provision intact since 1925 with an aim to secure land and employment to domiciles of J&K. Later, this provision was given room in the Constitution of the country and many governments since then kept this law untouched. But unfortunately, BJP tinkered with it and abrogated on August 5, 2019,” he said.

Azad said that common people and politicians of J&K were emotionally attached with Article 370 and 35(A). He reiterated that no political party can return Article 370 and 35(A) back to Jammu and Kashmir except two revered institutions of the country – Parliament and the Supreme Court.

“I have already said that no political party can undo the decisions taken on August 5, 2019. Only Parliament or Supreme Court can return this law back to J&K. There should be 350 seats in the Parliament to restore this law,” Azad added.

He hoped and prayed that a five-member bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachod would pronounce the decision in favour of J&K on December 11.

We trust SC will uphold its constitutional principles: Muzaffar Shah

As the Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict on Monday regarding a series of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 provisions in Jammu and Kashmir, senior leader and vice president of Awami National Conference, Muzaffar Shah stated on Sunday that tomorrow’s proceedings are not just about a verdict but also a significant test for the Supreme Court.

In an interview with a national news channel, Shah expressed his views ahead of the constitution bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, delivering its judgment on Monday, December 11, regarding the challenge to the abrogation of Article 370.

He emphasized that it’s not just about the decision; it’s a crucial test for the Supreme Court. Shah noted that the government de-operationalized the status of J&K by abrogating Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

“The court has to decide tomorrow whether the action was right or wrong, considering the lack of information and consent from the people. All eyes will be on the top court and its bench as it faces a significant test,” he said.

“It’s solely a question of whether the government’s actions on August 5 were constitutionally right or wrong. We trust that the esteemed top court will uphold its constitutional principles and render a decision in favour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated.