NEW DELHI – The Indian supreme court will hear a plea challenging theCentre’s decision to impose restrictions and “other regressive measures” inthe occupied state of Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of theprovisions of Article 370.

The plea filed by activist Tehseen Poonawalla is listed for hearing beforea bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, M R Shah and Ajay Rastogi forTuesday, the Times of India reported.

Besides seeking withdrawal of curfew, other regressive measures includingblocking of phone lines, Internet and news channels in the held valley,Poonawalla has also sought a direction from the top court for the releaseof leaders like former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Moreover, he has called for a judicial commission to inquire into groundrealities there and file a status report before the court.

A similar petition, seeking removal of restrictions imposed on working ofjournalists in the state after the scrapping of provisions of Article 370,was separately filed by Anuradha Bhasin, editor of a Kashmir daily.

Reports in India media suggest the plea is likely to be mentioned forurgent listing in the apex court.

Besides the petitions filed by Poonawalla and Bhasin, the NationalConference (NC) has also moved the apex court challenging the changes madein the constitutional status of J&K, contending that these have taken awayrights of its citizens without their mandate. The petition has been filedby Mohammad Akbar Lone and Justice (r) Hasnain Masoodi, both Lok Sabhamembers belonging to the NC.

Advocate Manohar Lal Sharma has also filed a separate plea challenging thePresidential Order on Article 370 which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s specialstatus.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind had last week declared abrogation of theprovisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status toJammu and Kashmir.

Both houses of the Indian parliament later approved a resolution abrogatingspecial status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitutionand a bill for splitting the state into two union territories.