Elections in Jammu and Kashmir can take place any time and a decision over it has to be taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the elections will be held in three stages – first there will be panchayat polls, second municipal polls and then legislative assembly polls.
The bench hearing the pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370, had asked the Centre to set a specific time frame for restoration of electoral democracy in the erstwhile state.
On August 29, the Centre had told the top court that the union territory status of Jammu and Kashmir is not a “permanent thing” and that it will make an elaborate statement on the vexatious political issue in the court on August 31.
The apex court was also informed by the Centre that it is unable to give a specific timeline for restoring the Statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir but clarified that Union Territory status is temporary. Developments are taking place for it to become a complete State, Centres said.
Moreover, terrorist instances have reduced by 45.2 per cent compared from 2018 to 2023 and infiltration reduced by 90 per cent. Law and order issues, including stone pelting, reduced by 97 per cent, Mehta said. Security personnel casualty is reduced by 65 per cent. Stone pelting instances in 2018 were 1,767, it is nil now. Organised bandhs in 2018 were 52 and now it is nil, Centre told the top court.