SC refuses to refer pleas to larger bench

NEWDELHI:The Supreme Court on Monday refused to refer the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 to a larger bench. NGO People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and an intervenor challenged the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision of August 5 last year and sought that the matter be referred to a larger bench, of either seven or nine judges.

The top court accepted the Centre’s arguments in the limited aspect of reference and held that there is no conflict in the earlier Supreme Court judgments of Sampat Prakash and Prem Nath Kaul.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice N V Ramana, on January 23, reserved its order on this issue.

Opposing the plea, the Centre said that abrogation of provisions of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was “fait accompli” which meant there was no going back on it.

On August 5 and 6 last year, Parliament passed laws and resolutions bifurcating the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh; and scrapping constitutional provisions that gave the state special status.

MET DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED A YELLOW WEATHER WARNING FOR 10 DISTRICTS FOR MARCH 5

SHIMLA:Himachal Pradesh will be receiving heavy snowfall and rain accompanied by hail and thunderstorms from March 4 onwards as the state’s meteorological department has issued a yellow weather warning for 10 districts, excluding Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, for March 5 and an orange weather warning for these districts on March 6.

State MeT director Manmohan Singh said, “Due to a fresh western disturbance, heavy snowfall and rain is likely to occur throughout the state from March 4 to March 7 and weather will remain dry after March 8 onwards.”

Precipitation occurred at isolated places throughout the state during the last 24 hours and minimum and maximum temperatures were normal.

Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 5.7°C while Kufri recorded 3.1°C. Minimum temperatures in popular hill stations including Manali in Kullu district, Dalhousie in Chamba district and Dharamshala in Kangra district were minus 0.4°C, 4.8°C and 7.2°C respectively. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 0.4°C.