New Delhi, October 1: The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a clutch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. The five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Justice NV Ramana, asked the Centre to respond within four weeks on the petitioners' charge that constitutional norms were subverted through the manner in which J&K was stripped of its special status and bifurcated into two union territories.

The petitioners called upon the bench to stay the bifurcation of the frontier state till it decides upon their pleas. The apex court, however, declined the request saying that the option of annulling Centre's move is always available in the future. "We can turn the clock back," the bench observed as it refused to entertain their request. Jammu And Kashmir: Terrorist Killed by Security Forces Three Days After Encounter Began in Ganderbal.

The bifurcation of J&K into two UTs -- one comprising of the Valley and Jammu regions and another of Ladakh and Kargil regions -- is scheduled to come into effect from October 31.

While Article 370 was abrogated through an executive order on August 5, the law to bifurcate the state - Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 - was passed in the Parliament's Upper House on August 6.

A section of the constitutionalists have raised apprehensions, claiming that the structure of a state cannot be changed while the legislative assembly is dissolved and Governor rule is imposed. On Article 370 move, the critics claim that the law makes it mandatory for the state cabinet to approve its abrogation.

With the government dissolved, the Centre has taken the Governor's assent as equivalent of the approval from the Council of State Ministers, they point out.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, restrictions have been imposed in Kashmir. Mobile phones and internet lines have been suspended, which has drawn the charge of "communication blockade" from the international community. India has, however, defended the rigorous move claiming that it is essential to restore peace in Jammu & Kashmir.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2019 02:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).