New Delhi: In a significant move, Supreme Court has upheld Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time asked the Government to restore its statehood. The apex court also directed the Election Commission of India to coduct election to the J&K assembly by September 30 next year.
The Centre in 2019 scrapped the Article 370 and split the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The verdict from a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud comes in response to a bunch of petitions challenging the Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370 four years ago. The apex court said the Article 370 was a temporary provision brought for some specific purposes and there is no mala-fide in President’s order abrogating it. Supreme Court said, Jammu and Kashmir did not enjoy any sovereignty after it joined the Union of India. The apex Court said Jammu and Kashmir does not have internal sovereignty different from other states.