Bill to 'restore J-K statehood' likely in Lok Sabha on Wednesday

The government is likely to introduce the J&K Reorganisation Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with all eyes on restoration of statehood of the union territory.

According to sources privy to developments, the Bill is likely to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, and they indicated that it is understood to be aimed at restoring the much-awaited statehood for J-K, though the actual objective of the proposed legislation is unclear.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been raising the demand for restoration of statehood since October 2024, when the Assembly elections were held there.

In fact, in his Independence Day speech, Abdullah had announced a signature campaign to build public consensus and mobilise grassroots support for restoration of statehood for J-K.

Subsequently, Javed Ahmed Rana, J-K’s Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, had launched a signature campaign from Mendhar in Poonch on August 17.

The development comes six years after the statehood was annulled on August 5, 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370, resulting in J-K and Ladakh becoming separate union territories.

During the hearing on petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that it would restore statehood to J-K.

Incidentally, the Supreme Court on August 14 had asked the Centre to respond to the petitions seeking directions to the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, even as it noted that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — in which 26 people were killed — can’t be ignored.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the apex court that there were “several considerations which go into the decision-making process”.