Image Source: Agencies

Aug 25, 2025: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to advance the date of hearing on pleas seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the matter is already listed on October 10.
On August 14, a bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai asked the Centre to respond within eight weeks to a separate plea requesting statehood restoration for the union territory. “I am seeking early listing of a contempt petition relating to abrogation of Article 370. Statehood was to be granted to Jammu and Kashmir,” a lawyer told the bench also comprising Justice N V Anjaria.

“It is listed already on October 10,” the CJI said on Monday while refusing to advance the date of hearing.
Justice Gavai stated, "We are in the middle of a constitutional bench hearing (the bench is hearing a presidential reference on establishing timelines for the president and governors)." The bench had earlier stated, "You also have to take into consideration the ground realities, you cannot ignore what has happened in Pahalgam," as it sought the Centre's response. It said this when a counsel had sought an early hearing.

On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, which gave the former state of Jammu and Kashmir special status. However, the court also mandated that assembly elections be held in the union territory by September 2024 and that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir be restored "at the earliest." In its December 2023 verdict, the apex court held that Article 370, which was incorporated in the Indian Constitution in 1949 to grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was a temporary provision.
Last year, a separate plea was filed in the top court seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood within two months.