“It is disastrous, makes fun of us”, Supreme Court on Jammu & Kashmir affidavit

The case relating to the establishment of a Minorities Commission for the State of Jammu & Kashmir witnessed an interesting incident today, as the Supreme Court took objection to the affidavit submitted by the state government in the matter..The case filed by one Ankur Sharma prays for establishment of a Minorities Commission in the state, contending that minorities including Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists are unable to avail benefits under various schemes for minorities..When the case came up for hearing today, a Bench presided by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar referred to the affidavit submitted by Jammu & Kashmir and remarked,.“It is a disastrous affidavit, it makes fun of us.”.The state immediately withdrew the affidavit..Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the central government, told the court that discussions for setting up the Minority Commission were taking place at various levels..The Court allowed the Centre and the state government three more months to deliberate on the issue and take a decision..In compliance with the Court’s order in March this year, the Ministry of Minority Affairs had constituted a Committee, through which the Centre and the state would convene to look into the issues faced by minorities in the state. The Committee had only sat for meeting, before the Court, on May 1 directed it to submit a proposal by July 31..However, despite “pursuing the matter with utmost seriousness”, the central and state governments could not convene another meeting to discuss the issue. The affidavit states,.“…concerned State officials and administrative machinery have all been occupied inter-alia due to fragile law and order situation, peculiar security issues, preparation and conduct of ongoing Amarnath Yatra, etc…”.As seen above, the Court was in no mood to entertain the government’s excuses and deeming the affidavit as a disastrous one..Read the affidavit: