The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea for Governor’s rule in the strife-ridden State of Jammu and Kashmir, observing that “these are difficult situations, which change every few hours and cannot be judicially managed.”
A Bench of Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, however, asked Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar, acting on behalf of the Centre, to file a status report on the difficulties faced by people due to the violence and imposition of curfew in the State.
“We will ask the Solicitor General to file a status report detailing the ground reality in the State... What is happening there and what are the difficulties of the people... We will do whatever we can to help the people there,” Mr. Justice Thakur said.
The Bench was hearing a petition by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party leader and senior advocate Bhim Singh, seeking a direction to the Governor to impose gubernatorial rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir owing to the “failure” of the constitutional machinery in the State.
“It has been 21 days of curfew. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution [right to life] has been murdered...” Mr. Singh submitted.
“Don't make this court a stage for your political speech... We cannot impose Governor’s rule in J&K,” Mr. Justice Thakur reacted sternly to Mr. Singh’s plea.
