“Satisfied with court’s observation”: Tariq Karra on SC’s direction to challenge LG’s nomination of 5 MLAs in HC

Srinagar, Oct 14: Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Karra Monday said that they are satisfied with the Supreme Court’s decision to refer the plea against the LG’s nomination of five members to the High Court for further deliberation.

The case has significance as it challenges the constitutional validity of the Lieutenant Governor’s unilateral decision to nominate five MLA’s without advice of the House, Karra told news agency KNS.

He said the Supreme Court’s observation is clear that the issue should first be addressed in the High Court. If necessary, it can be taken back to the Supreme Court. "We are questioning the constitutional validity of the LG’s decision, as it bypasses the Assembly’s role in the nomination process,” he said.

He said that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has been actively pursuing this issue, sending senior party member Ravinder Sharma to Delhi to file a petition. "We immediately sought legal counsel and, on behalf of the AICC, filed the petition. The Supreme Court has kept the door open for further legal recourse, which is a positive step," Karra said.

Karra said that the nomination of MLAs without the public’s consent undermines the electoral mandate and affects the Assembly’s structure. "We want to ensure that the process respects the will of the people," he added.

Karra said that as of today, there is no President’s Rule, and the legal process to form the new government is progressing. "Once the final steps are completed, we will see the formation of the government with a coalition of alliance partners and independents," he said.

On Statehood, Karra said that elections have been successfully held, the conditions are clearly stable. There’s no justification to delay the restoration of statehood any longer," he said.

He said that that are commitment to ensure transparency and uphold the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir. "We are confident that justice will be done, and we will work to preserve the unity of Jammu and Kashmir, as it has always been a region of Hindu-Muslim-Sikh harmony," he added.