SC to hear Panthers Party plea for Governor’s rule in J&K

New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) The Supreme Court will hear next week the plea by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party seeking imposition of Governor's rule in the state on the ground of paralysis of administration.

A bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur agreed to hear the plea next week on a mentioning by senior counsel Bhim Singh, who also heads the party.

Seeking direction to the Governor to intervene in the prevailing situations, the petition has sought direction for the lifting of ban on the Yatra to the Shri Amarnath Cave shrine in the Valley.

Singh told the court that for the last fortnight the state is under siege, no public institutions are working, and there is no drinking water and electricity.

Noting under Section 93 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, the Governor is empowered to assume all the powers to run the state by placing the government and the assembly under suspension, he said Governor's rule is essential now for national integrity and security, and for the survival of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The party argued that the Governor has every responsibility to intervene by suspending the assembly as present government has totally failed to govern the state in accordance with the constitutional mandate and rule of law.