Abrogation of Article 370: SC asks NC party leader Mohammad Akbar Lone to file affidavit, swearing allegiance to the Indian Constitution

Today, the Supreme Court (SC) of India continued the hearing of the batch of petitions related to the abrogation of Article 370. The matter was heard by a Constitution bench including Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, and Justice Surya Kant. During the beginning of the SC proceedings, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Centre, and other respondents informed the bench that National Conference (NC) party leader Mohammad Akbar Lone is a petitioner in a case where he raised slogans in the 2018 J&K assembly including ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. The SC bench today said Lone to file an affidavit, “swearing allegiance to the Constitution of India and accepting the country’s sovereignty”. During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said that he would not represent Lone if he did not file an affidavit. He also submitted that “He is an MP of Lok Sabha. He is a citizen of India and sworn to his office by the Constitution. He accepts the sovereignty of India.” The bench rises for the day and will continue hearing the petitions tomorrow, September 05.