New Delhi, October 14 (IANS). The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea challenging the arrangement by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir to nominate five members to the Assembly.
“First approach the High Court regarding the matter,” a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioner.
“We are not inclined to entertain the present petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. The petitioners are at liberty to approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court,” the bench ordered. The bench made it clear that it would consider the petition “on merits.” The bench also included Justice Sanjay Kumar.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Amendment Act 2013, all five nominated members will have voting rights in government formation.
Two of the nominated members shall be women; Two Kashmiri Pandits will be from the displaced community, at least one of whom will be a woman; And one would be a refugee from West Pakistan.
National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar on Friday and staked claim to form the government.
In the recently held elections for 90 assembly seats, 42 candidates of the National Conference have won, while ally six from the Congress and one from the CPI(M) have emerged victorious. At the same time, 29 members of BJP, three members of PDP, one member each of Aam Aadmi Party and People’s Conference have reached the Assembly. Apart from this, seven independents also won.
Most of the winning independent candidates, including Pyare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Mohammad Chaudhary Akram, Dr. Rameshwar Singh and Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, have decided to support the NC. AAP’s lone winner Mehraj Malik has also said that he will support NC.
Abdullah had said, “The first task of the Cabinet should be to pass a proposal to the Center to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. After this, the Chief Minister should go to Delhi with the proposal and request the government to restore our statehood.” Needed
Omar Abdullah admitted that there were apprehensions that the powers of the government would be limited in the Union Territory.
–IANS
FZ/PSM/AKJ