Supreme Court rejects urgent hearing on challenge to Article 370

Two separate petitions questioning Article 370 and the lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir failed to get an urgent hearing from the Supreme Court on Thursday.

With the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, who alone has the power to fix urgent hearing of a case, sitting in a Constitution bench in the Ayodhya title suit case, the two petitioners approached a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana with their request to list the matter on Friday.

Describing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as violation of basic human rights, a petition by Congress spokesperson Tehseen Poonawala sought urgent orders from the Court to restore phone lines, internet and communication links. It even sought immediate release of all political leaders who are either in illegal custody or under house arrest since August 4. The petition further demanded a judicial commission to visit and prepare a report on the prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The bench of Justices Ramana and Ajay Rastogi refused to grant urgent hearing as the same could be granted only by the CJI. However, the Court assured the petitioner that the matter shall be placed before the CJI for listing before the appropriate bench next week.

As regards the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, another petition filed by lawyer ML Sharma was mentioned before the same bench. Sharma argued that the situation required urgent consideration in the light of news reports that Pakistan will approach UN.