NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Union government an additional four weeks to file its detailed response in a batch of petitions seeking directions for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the hearing, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, requested more time to file the response. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, allowed the request and granted a four-week extension.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, an academician, and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, an activist — both residents of Jammu and Kashmir — who have sought directions to the Centre to restore statehood to the region.

The petitioners argued that the continued delay in r

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