SC backs political process to resolve ongoing crisis in J&K

The Supreme Court on Monday said certain dimensions of the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir could only be resolved through political interactions between stakeholders and that judicial intervention has its limits.

"There are certain dimensions to the problem which the court cannot decide judicially. These issues find resolution in such meetings which are happening, like between the Prime Minister and the Opposition, where all stake holders get to be heard," said the bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.

Pointing out that political solution may hopefully bring peace to the Kashmir Valley which is under curfew for the past 45 days, Chief Justice Thakur said there were limits of judicial intervention in such situations.

It was only through an interaction such as the ongoing talks between the government and the opposition parties that a solution might emerge to ease tensions in the trouble-torn valley, the bench said.

Having said this, the court advised Bhim Singh, the head of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, to join the political process instead of having a court hearing.

The bench said this in course of the hearing of a petition filed by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party seeking direction to Jammu and Kashmir Governor to intervene in the prevailing situation and take over the administration of the state by suspending the assembly.

The petitioner said the Governor has every responsibility to intervene under Section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution by suspending the assembly as the current government has totally failed to govern the state in accordance with the constitutional mandate and rule of law.

The Centre had on August 5 told the apex court that there was a "remarkable improvement in the situation in Kashmir valley which was plunged into violent protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and two others on July 8.

The Centre had said on August 5 that between July 9 and August 3, a total of 872 incidents took place resulting in the death of 42 civilians and two security personnel.

The Centre had said that as of now the violent protests have witnessed 2,656 civilians and 3,783 security personnel being injured.

The Centre had said this in its status report about the ground situation that was submitted to the apex court in pursuance to its July 29 order.

The court gave two more weeks' time to Bhim Singh to file his reply to August 5 status report of the Centre.

--IANS

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