The Supreme Court gave its verdict today (December 11) to determine the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision to revoke ‘Article 370,’ the special status granted to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Justice of India stated that the court declined to rule on the validity of the Presidential rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir in December 2018 as it was not explicitly challenged by the petitioner. The Supreme Court bench has dismissed the petitioners’ case, affirming Article 370 as a temporary provision in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ruling from a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, is a response to a series of petitions challenging the Centre’s decision made four years ago. Following a 16-day-long hearing, the Supreme Court concluded and reserved its judgment on September 5.

In 2019, the Centre abolished the special status and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The petitioners contended that the Centre cannot unilaterally revoke Article 370, as the powers of the Constituent Assembly were transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir legislature after its dissolution in 1957.

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The apex court, while delivering the verdict, also stated that elections should take place in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024, and statehood should be reinstated as soon as possible

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