Indian SC issues notice to govt on petitions against revoking Article 370

The Supreme Court (SC) of India issued on Wednesday a notice to the Indian government regarding petitions challenging the revocation of Article 370 from the constitution.

According to India Today, during the hearing today, the SC issued a notice to the Centre and said that a five-judge Constitution Bench will hear all the petitions related to abrogation of Article 370, in the first week of October.

The Indian SC has also issued a notice to the Centre on the plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin. The petitioner had sought an end to the restrictions on the internet, landline and other communication channels in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK). The SC has sought a detailed response from the Centre within seven days.

Indian SC refuses to hear petition against revocation of Article 370 on urgent basis

On August 8, the SC had refused to hear the petitions saying that the pleas would be heard in ‘due course’. On August 5, India repealed Article 370 from its constitution and stripped off IoK's special status. By revoking the status, it means people from the rest of India will now have the right to acquire property in the region and settle there permanently.

The lock down in IoK has entered its fourth week and phone communications have been cut and tens of thousands of troop reinforcements have been deployed in occupied Kashmir.