National Desk, 11th December: In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. The decision, delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, affirmed the constitutional validity of the government’s actions on August 5th, 2019, resulting in significant changes to the region’s autonomy and governance.
Article 370, originally a temporary provision due to war conditions, permitted Jammu and Kashmir to have its constitution and restricted the applicability of the Indian Constitution in the state. The region was subsequently declared a Union Territory on October 31st, 2019, with capitals in Srinagar and Jammu during different seasons.
The Supreme Court’s ruling followed extensive deliberations and reserved judgment on September 5th after 16 days of arguments. The bench concluded that the President of India had the authority to render Article 370 inoperative, even after the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly.
Additionally, the court directed the Election Commission of India to conduct Legislative Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30th, 2024, and upheld the reorganization of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory. The judgment included a call for a truth-and-reconciliation commission to investigate human rights violations in the region.
Political reactions varied, with some expressing dissatisfaction. Ghulam Nabi Azad noted the unhappiness among the people of Jammu and Kashmir but acknowledged the need to accept the decision. Heightened security measures were in place leading up to the verdict, and guidelines were issued for social media use to prevent the spread of sensitive content.
This historic ruling sets the stage for Jammu and Kashmir’s future political landscape, emphasizing the central government’s commitment to closer integration with the rest of India. It also opens the door for potential statehood restoration in the foreseeable future.