New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of petitions challenging the validity of Article 35A, which allows special rights to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, amid a statewide shutdown declared by Kashmiri separatists and a number of organisations.
The top court said it will hear the petitions from August 27 after the state government sought an adjournment on the grounds of the upcoming elections to local bodies.
The Centre also cited the “sensitive situation” in the state to seek deferment of the matter.
The apex court went on to state that a three-judge bench will determine whether the matter should be heard by a constitution bench. “We need to see if Article 35A violates the basic structure of the Constitution,” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
Article 35A disallows outsiders from settling permanently, buying immovable property or availing of state-sponsored scholarships in the restive state. Separatists believe that removal or dilution of the Article will enable “the country’s right-wing groups to change the demographic character as well as the disputed nature” of the state. They – along with trade, tourism and civil society groups – have threatened to launch mass agitations if the article is revoked by the top court.