Abrogation of Article 370: Constitution Bench grants Centre four weeks’ time to file response

The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court set up to hear the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 today granted four weeks’ time to the Centre to file its response. The Bench will now hear the matter next on November 14.

A Constitution Bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, R Subhash Reddy, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, is hearing these matters.

When the Bench assembled to hear the batch of petitions today, Attorney General KK Venugopal sought more time to file a response.

This request of the Centre was met with opposition from the petitioners. Senior Counsel Raju Ramachandran pointed out that the reorganisation of the erstwhile state will come into effect from October 31. The process will be irreversible and the petitions must not be rendered infructuous, Ramachandran told the Court.

However, without passing any order on the Reorganization Act, the Court adjourned the case till November 14. The Centre is required to file its response in four weeks.

Over the past two months, a number of petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging various aspects associated with the abrogation of Article 370.