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"The status of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is not a permanent issue. As for Ladakh, its UT status will remain for some time," Mehta said.
A top government lawyer said he will issue a detailed statement on August 31 on the future of J-K and the Union Territory of Ladakh, which also includes Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant.

Mehta, in a speech defending the Centre's decision to abandon the special status of the former state and its restructuring, said: "Democracy is important, although we agree that restructuring of the country can be done in the light of the national security scenario."

However, the court said that the lack of electoral democracy cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.
“It has to stop… give us an exact time when you intend to restore true democracy. We want to register it," the judge said and asked Mehta and Attorney General R Venkataraman to seek directions from the political leadership and return to the court.