Hearing on Article 35A deferred to January 2019

The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on Article 35A to January 2019. The apex court was set to hear pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A of the Constitution. Both the Centre and J&K govt sought a postponement of the scheduled SC hearing warning of unrest in the state during the upcoming Panchayat polls. Attorney general KK Venugopal told the Supreme Court bench that a larger number of paramilitary forces are moving to Jammu and Kashmir for the purpose of elections, adding that if any sensitive issues come up during this period, then it could lead to law and order situation.