Srinagar

Omar Abdullah, former CM of Jammu and Kashmir and vice president of the National Conference (NC), stated on Tuesday that a larger bench of the SC could potentially overturn the current ruling on the abrogation of Article 370. Abdullah, speaking to reporters in Budgam, emphasized that nothing is set in stone, and decisions made by a 5-judge bench are not immune to change by a 7-judge bench in the future.

He clarified that the decision to revoke Article 370 was made by Parliament and not by divine will. Abdullah pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously reversed its own decisions on three occasions, suggesting that a future larger bench could do the same.

Abdullah also criticized the current governance, stating that while the Centre has been in charge of Jammu and Kashmir for the past decade, the responsibility for the region’s situation lies with them. His comments followed remarks by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who claimed that Article 370’s abrogation is irreversible.

Currently, Abdullah is contesting the assembly elections from two constituencies, Budgam and Ganderbal, facing candidates from the PDP and other rivals. The NC, in alliance with Congress, is competing in the J&K Assembly elections with a pre-poll agreement on seat distribution.