Jammu, Aug. 14 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to expedite the hearing of a batch of applications seeking a time-bound roadmap for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, citing prevailing "ground realities" - including the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran acceded to the Centre's request to list the matter after eight weeks, underscoring the need to take into account the current security situation in the region.
"You will also have to take into consideration the ground realities. You cannot ignore what has happened in Pahalgam," the CJI told the applicants pressing for an early hearing.
The applications contend that the continued delay...