The Supreme Court’s October 10, 2025, hearing laid bare the deepening rift over Jammu & Kashmir’s (J&K) statehood, as the ‘their government’ versus ‘our government’ rhetoric underscored a crisis of trust. Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran examined petitions demanding the Centre honor its 2019 assurance—post-Article 370 abrogation—that J&K’s Union Territory (UT) status was temporary, with statehood to follow elections. Over a year after those polls, the unfulfilled promise fuels widespread disillusionment in the valley.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan pressed for a concrete timeline, noting the Court’s earlier trust in Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s assurances. He argued the 2019 reorganization into two UTs evaded scrutiny due to this pledge. Citing the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack—where 26 Hindu tourists died in a Pakistan-backed strike—Sankaranarayanan said it happened “under their watch,” pointing to Union governance lapses. Mehta retorted sharply, “Under our government’s watch, not your government’s watch!” He called the phrasing divisive, questioning, “Who are these petitioners? They are not considering government their government?” He invoked “water and blood,” highlighting unique security challenges from cross-border threats.
Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone, warned that prolonged UT status threatens federalism, setting a dangerous precedent under Articles 1, 2, and 3. Mehta, citing “ground realities” like the Pahalgam fallout, sought six weeks to respond; the Court granted four, with the CJI noting, “Pahalgam is not yet…”
At Kashmir’s grassroots, ‘their government’ reflects Delhi’s distant control, while ‘our government’ embodies aspirations for local agency. The 2019 changes deepened alienation, amplifying calls for autonomy. The hearing reveals a legitimacy crisis: integration falters when voices are sidelined. Statehood restoration, decentralized power, economic upliftment, and inclusive dialogue are urgent. Only then can ‘their’ become ‘our,’ healing India’s fractured mosaic. Inaction risks entrenching division.
