Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Aug 31: The Central Government told the Supreme Court on Thursday that elections can be held in Jammu and Kashmir at any time. The decision on this issue has to be taken by the Election Commission. The government said this while presenting a draft on the restoration of electoral democracy and full statehood in the Union Territory.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a five-judge bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud that the decision on elections in Jammu and Kashmir has to be taken by the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission. Mehta told the bench that elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held at three levels – first Panchayat elections, second municipal body elections and then elections at the assembly level.
Earlier, the Central Government had told the Supreme Court on August 29 that the status of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is not permanent and it will give a detailed statement on this complex political issue in the court on August 31. Notably, while hearing the petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370, a five-judge constitution bench had asked the government to set a specific deadline for the restoration of electoral democracy in the erstwhile state.
