Five-Judge SC Bench To Hear Petitions Challenging Withdrawal Of Article 370

Order comes amid prayers by govt. to exercise restraint on observations on J&K

- Krishnadas Rajagopal

The Supreme Court on Wednesday referred to a five-judge Bench several petitions challenging the withdrawal of Article 370 and bifurcation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.

A Presidential Order on August 5 had withdrawn Article 370, through which special rights and privileges had been accorded to the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1954 in accordance with the Instrument of Accession.

“Let all the petitions on the Article 370 issue go to a five-judge Bench for hearing,” Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, heading a three-judge Bench, said.

Call for restraint

The order came amidst fervent prayers by the government, represented by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to exercise restraint as far as orders and oral observations on Jammu and Kashmir were concerned.