Indian SC issue notices to govt on petitions regarding Article 370, 35A

The Indian Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to Indian federal government on the petitions challenging Article 370 and formed five-judge constitution bench to hear petitions in the first week of October, challenging bifurcation of the article 370 that gave special status to the occupied Kashmir.

During the hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi issued notices to the central government and others to reply within seven days and also allowed CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and a student from Delhi’s Jamia Millia University to visit occupied Kashmir.

It is also pertinent to be mentioned here that one plea was submitted by Sitaram Yechury in which he challenged the detention of Kashmir politician and party general secretary Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami. The petitions also challenge the Modi government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and the imposition of curfew in occupied Kashmir.

On August 5, India abolished Article 370 and revoked special status to occupied Kashmir. Following the move, the Modi government also enhanced the number of Indian troops to the disputed valley and imposed a curfew, while placing Kashmiri politicians under house arrest.

The curfew and media blackout has enhanced the problems of the masses in the held-valley which has been condemned internationally and by opposition leaders in India.