Five-judge SC Bench to hear pleas challenging abrogation of Article 370

Also allows CPI(M)'s Yechury to visit J&K to meet party colleague Md Yousuf Tarigami

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday agreed to hear a bunch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and said a five-judge Constitution Bench would start hearing the validity of the government’s move from the first week of October.

Despite stiff opposition from Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, a three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, issued notices to the Centre and the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) administration, and sought their response on the petitions.

The issuance of notice by the apex court would mean that the case has