New Delhi, June 30 -- Five petitioners including a former Union Home Secretary, retired defence officers, and a government-appointed interlocutor -- have written an open letter to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, urging the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the continuing delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Citing assurances made by the Union Government, parliamentary statements, and the Supreme Court's observations in the 2023 verdict, the signatories expressed concern that the prolonged Union Territory status, imposed in 2019, violates the Constitution's basic structure doctrine and sets a dangerous precedent for Indian federalism.

The petitioners, in their letter to the CJI, have also raised concerns that th...