Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud on Monday asked Attorney General R. Venkataramani to look into the suspension of Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, a senior lecturer of political science four days after he pleaded against the Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370 before the Supreme Court. Justice B. R. Gavai also questioned the Centre about the “close proximity” between Mr. Bhat’s appearance in court and the suspension order.
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted that the Preamble of the Constitution of India was made applicable to J&K without the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’. He also contended that following the abrogation, there has been an influx of investments and tourists in the valley.
The Chief Justice had earlier said that the government cannot justify the “means” used to abrogate Article 370 from the Constitution and erase Jammu and Kashmir as a full-fledged State in August 2019 by simply pointing to the “ends” achieved.
The court was earlier apprised that the Union Government has no intention to interfere with the special provisions applicable to North Eastern states or other parts of India. The assurance was given following the apprehensions raised by advocate Manish Tewari about the implications of the abrogation on the prospects of States in the northeast.
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On August 5, 2019, the Centre decided to strip the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir of special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories. By abrogating Article 370, the Central Government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Several petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, were referred to a Constitution Bench in 2019.
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