historic ruling was rendered by the five-judge Supreme Court bench regarding the challenges to the central government’s 2019 decision to repeal Article 370. In addition to declaring that Jammu and Kashmir lacks unique internal autonomy when compared to other states and upholding the nullification of Article 370, the court ordered the immediate reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s status as a union territory under central administration.
Important developments about the Supreme Court’s rulings on Article 370:
1) The Supreme Court upheld the central government’s decision to withdraw Article 370, ruling that Jammu and Kashmir is not superior to other states in terms of internal autonomy.
2) The bench supported the government’s choice to split Ladakh off from the former Jammu and Kashmir state.
3) The court accelerated the restoration of the state’s status and suggested that Jammu and Kashmir hold legislative elections by September 30 of the following year.
4) Justice DY Chandrachud emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is an essential component of India, in accordance with Articles 1 and 370, and that Article 370 was an interim measure because of the wartime circumstances.
5) Justice Chandrachud stressed that it is not necessary to follow the consultation principle when using presidential authority.
6) In order to avoid administrative paralysis, the court emphasized that states should not be able to legally challenge any decision made by the federal government.
7) The court pointed out that Article 370 was a provision that was meant to be temporary because of the state’s wartime circumstances, citing the declaration of the Maharaja.
8) On September 5, the Supreme Court issued separate and concurring rulings prior to releasing the final decision.
9) People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, was placed under house arrest pending the final decision on the challenges to Article 370; journalists were not impacted.
10) Kashmir and Jammu The local government and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha refuted accusations made against PDP and NC leaders, emphasizing that their leaders were not under house arrest. On social media, the Srinagar Police reaffirmed this position.
