Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 2019 decision of the Union Government to abrogate Article 370

Today (December 11, 2023), the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court (SC) comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Justice BR Gavai initiated the pronouncement of the verdict on a batch of petitions against the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Earlier this year on August 02, the five-judge bench commenced the hearing where various arguments and discussions were made concerning the Central Government’s 2019 decision to repeal Article 370 resulting in the revocation of special status given to Jammu & Kashmir. After hearing the matter for 16 days, the bench reserved the judgment on September 05, 2023. 

There were 3 judgments in the matter, one was by the CJI for himself, Justice Kant, and Justice Gavai. The second judgment was a concurring opinion authored by Justice Kaul and the third judgment was by Justice Khanna who concurred with both the judgments authored by the CJI and Justice Kaul. While pronouncing the judgment today, the SC upheld the validity of the 2019 decision of the Union Government to abrogate Article 370 and stated that the state of J&K had no internal sovereignty. The top court also said that the restoration of statehood should be done as soon as possible and directed the Election Commission of India should take steps to conduct elections to the Jammu & Kashmir assembly by September 30. Further, the bench upheld the reorganization of Ladakh as a Union Territory. 

More information regarding the matter will be given after the judgment is uploaded.