SC to hear challenge to Article 370

New Delhi, April 25. The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list in July a bunch of petitions challenging the validity of the law scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution and special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.

A two-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana and also comprising Justice Hima Kohli gave the ruling. Chief Justice Ramana said the matter has to be listed before a five-judge Bench as some judges in the original bench which was hearing the case have retired.

The petitions were mentioned by senior lawyers Shekhar Naphade and P Chidambaram, who sought and wanted its direction that the matter be listed next week for an hearing. But Chief Justice Ramana said the matter will be heard in July.