The Supreme Court on Monday declined to advance the hearing on petitions demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the matter is already scheduled for October 10.

On August 14, a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai had directed the Centre to file its response within eight weeks on a plea seeking the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.

“I am seeking early listing of a contempt petition relating to abrogation of Article 370. Statehood was to be granted to Jammu and Kashmir,” a lawyer submitted before the bench, also comprising Justice N.V. Anjaria.

However, the CJI refused, stating, “It is listed already on October 10… we are in the midst of a constitutional bench hearing.” The constitutional bench is presently examining a presidential reference on fixing timelines for governors and the president.

While seeking the Centre’s reply earlier, the bench had remarked, “You also have to take into consideration the ground realities… you cannot ignore what has happened in Pahalgam.”

On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, but directed that assembly elections be held by September 2024 and statehood be restored “at the earliest.”

The apex court had also ruled that Article 370, incorporated in 1949, was a temporary provision. A separate petition filed last year sought directions to the Centre to restore statehood within two months.