Reaffirming Centre’s commitment on the issue, the Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on Tuesday said statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir soon.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Meghwal said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir statehood is sensitive and it may take time for the government to take a final call, but it will be granted as has been reiterated time and again. He reaffirmed the Central Government’s commitment saying, “Our Home Minister has already assured in the Lok Sabha that the rightful process will be followed and the people will get what is due to them.”On the timing of a decision, he added, “I think you will hear some decision on this very soon.”
Pertinently, in August 2019, the Government of India revoked the region’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
During the visit, he also outlined major judicial and governance reforms for the UT. Speaking on access to justice, the Minister said the Tele-Law initiative has been launched to bridge the legal divide for people living in remote and far-flung areas, who do not have easy access to legal aid. Under the programme, citizens can approach nearby Common Service Centres (CSCs), where their legal issues are digitally connected to a panel of lawyers assigned to the concerned area.
He explained that through this system, individuals receive timely legal advice directly from panel lawyers, with the primary focus on pre-litigation resolution. The objective, he said, was to resolve disputes before they reach courts, thereby reducing unnecessary litigation, and saving time as also resources.
Addressing the growing concern over judicial pendency, Meghwal acknowledged that despite continuous disposal of cases, courts across the country—including the Supreme Court, High Courts, and District Courts—are witnessing a rising inflow of new cases, leading to sustained pressure on the justice delivery system.
To counter this challenge, he said the government has intensified efforts to promote Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms. While Tele-Law functions at the pre-court stage, ADR tools such as arbitration, mediation and conciliation are being strengthened to ensure faster settlements in cases already before the courts.
He clarified that the process involves constitutional and procedural steps, and that the government is committed to following due process. He expressed optimism that a decision on the restoration of statehood would be taken in the near future.
The Minister concluded by asserting that strengthening governance, ensuring timely justice and fulfilling constitutional commitment, especially with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, remain central to the government’s agenda.
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