Restore J&K Statehood Without Delay: Former Top Officials Urge CJI In Open Letter, Seek Suo Motu Action By Supreme Court
It calls the restoration of statehood, along with civil and political rights, the “most effective remedy” to preserve constitutional democracy in the region;
Five eminent public figures; including a former Union Home Secretary, Senior retired defence personnel, and a government-appointed interlocutor, have penned an open letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice B.R. Gavai, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the prolonged delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Citing the Supreme Court’s own observations in its 2023 verdict and repeated assurances by the Union government, the signatories contend that the continued Union Territory status of Jammu and Kashmir, imposed in 2019, undermines the Constitution’s basic structure and sets a dangerous precedent for Indian federalism.
The letter, signed by Radha Kumar (former interlocutor for J&K), Gopal Pillai (former Union Home Secretary), Major General Ashok K. Mehta (retd), Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (retd), and Amitabha Pande (former Inter-State Council Secretary), points out that the argument of recent terrorist violence, such as the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, is not a valid reason to delay statehood.
“On the contrary, the high turnout and peaceful conduct of the October 2024 assembly elections, which saw the National Conference win with a clear majority, demonstrates the people's aspiration for a representative, empowered government,” the letter states.
The petitioners also raised concerns over the Lieutenant Governor-led administration’s exclusion of the elected government from security, administrative, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
They noted that despite a similar ruling by the Supreme Court favouring Delhi’s elected government, J&K’s elected Chief Minister is denied access to security briefings and civil service oversight.
The letter warns that the absence of a functioning human rights commission, combined with unaccountable policing, has left citizens without effective recourse and is contributing to growing disillusionment.
It calls the restoration of statehood, along with civil and political rights, the “most effective remedy” to preserve constitutional democracy in the region.
The petitioners have appealed for the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance, constitute an appropriate bench, and set a concrete deadline for the full restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.