New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: A day before the crucial hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central government on Monday defended its action in a fresh affidavit, and said that since 2019, the entire region has witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity.

"Since 2019, the entire region has witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity. Life has returned to normal in the region after over three decades of turmoil," the Central government claimed in the affidavit, filed before the Supreme Court.

The Centre argued that schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and other public institutions are functioning efficiently without any strikes or any kind of disturbances during the last three years.

"The earlier practice of daily hartals, strikes, stone pelting and bandhs are things of the past now," the Central government told the Supreme Court in its affidavit.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a batch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370.

"After the constitutional changes, were democratically made, major steps were taken to strengthen grassroots democracy. For the first time in its history, a duly elected 3-tier Panchayati Raj System has been established in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections for the members of the District Development Councils were held in Jammu & Kashmir in November-December 2020," the Centre, in its fresh affidavit, said.

It said that stone pelting incidents are thing of past. Stone pelting incidents which were as high as 1767 in 2018 are 0 in 2023.

The Central government said that the entire region of J&K including Ladakh has witnessed an unprecedented era of peace and development.

The historic step brought stability, peace, development and security to the region, it said.

The Centre said that resolute anti-terror actions have resulted in the dismantling of the terror eco-system which is reflected in a significant drop in terrorist recruitment from 199 in the year 2018 to 12 in the year 2023 till date.