Ready to hold polls in Jammu Kashmir at any time, centre informs SC 

NEW DELHI: The centre informed the Supreme Court that they are ready to hold the elections in Jammu and Kashmir at any time. The centre made the statement while hearing some pleas questioning the abrogation of Article 370. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the apex court on behalf of the centre before the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. However, a final decision has to be taken jointly by the election commission and the state poll panel.

The Supreme Court had clarified the need to restore democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, which has not had an elected government since 2018, in a hearing on Tuesday. However, the centre refused to grant equal status to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. The centre said it will take some more time to restore the status.

In 2019, Article 370 was abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories namely Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. The centre had then argued that Jammu and Kashmir was unique and its division was necessary. However, the centre had also said that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir would be restored at the appropriate time. Home Minister Amit Shah also reiterated this.