SC Bench reserves verdict in Article 370 abrogation challenge

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 which bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud heard the rejoinder arguments of senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Gopal Subramanium, Rajeev Dhavan, Zaffar Shah, Dushyant Dave and others on the concluding day of the hearing, which went on for 16 days.

The apex court said if any lawyer appearing for the petitioners or respondents wishes to file a written submission can do so in the next three days.

The submission should not extend beyond two pages, it added.

Several pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 were referred to the Constitution bench in 2019.

In the course of the hearing, the court heard Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior advocates Harish Salve, Rakesh Dwivedi, V Giri and others on behalf of the Centre and the intervenors defending the abrogation of Article 370.