Live: The petitioners argued that Article 370 cannot be scrapped unilaterally by the Centre
Article 370 of the Constitution, which bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was a "temporary provision", the Supreme Court ruled on Monday. In a landmark verdict, the court unanimously upheld the Centre's August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370, while directing restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest and holding of the assembly elections by September 30, 2024.
The Centre in 2019 scrapped the special status 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 of India DY Chandrachud comes in response to a slew of petitions challenging the Centre's move four years ago. After a 16-day-long hearing, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment on September 5.
The petitioners argued that Article 370 cannot be scrapped unilaterally by the Centre, since the powers of the Constituent Assembly were vested in the Jammu and Kashmir legislature after it was dissolved in 1957.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS on the big story:
By abrogating Article 370, PM Modi gave new strength to unity, integrity of India: BJPThe BJP on Monday hailed as "historic" the Supreme Court upholding the Centre's decision to scrap Article 370 and said with its abrogation in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave new strength to the unity and integrity of India.
The court unanimously upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of the Article bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and directed restoration of statehood "at the earliest" as well as elections to the assembly by September 30 next year.
"Can't Challenge Every Decision...": Supreme Court's "Chaos" WarningThe Supreme Court on Monday refused to rule on the validity of President's Rule in Jammu and
Kashmir - imposed in December 2018 - since it was not specifically challenged by petitioners as part of an overall contesting of the scrapping of special status, under Article 370, to the former state.
The court also seemed to warn against challenges to "decisions taken by the Union on behalf of the State (when President's Rule is in effect) for day-to-day administration", flagging possible "chaos".
Jammu and Kashmir BJP welcomes verdict on Article 370Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Monday hailed the Supreme Court's verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, saying "we honour and respect the judgement in letter and spirit".
However, former president of J-K Congress G A Mir said the party is going through the verdict and would issue a statement accordinly. He said the apex court should have given a time frame for the restoration of the statehood and ensured special safeguards for the jobs and land for the locals of the Union Territory.
Rajnath Singh calls Supreme Court decision "historic"
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called Supreme Court's decision to constitutionally validating the removal of Article 370 a "historic" decision that is going to make every Indian happy.
Rajnath Singh also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for abolishing Article 370 and said that Jammu and Kashmir has entered a new era of development.
S Jaishankar On Supreme Court Ruling "Through today's historic verdict, the Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Parliament on 5 August 2019. In this time, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have seen the development, good governance and empowerment that were long their due. This has strengthened India's unity and integrity. Today's judgement portends a brighter future for our brothers and sisters in J&K and Ladakh. The Modi Government will continue its relentless efforts to bringing more growth and development for them," S Jaishankar posted on X
Key Takeaways From Supreme Court's Article 370 Judgment
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered today, upheld the Centre's decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Centre's decision to carve out the union territory of Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
"Dil Na Umeed To Hai": Omar Abdullah After Supreme Court's Article 370 Ruling
Omar Abdullah To GN Azad: What Kashmir Leaders Said On Article 370 Ruling
A five-judge of the Supreme Court backed the Centre's move to scrap Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which granted the erstwhile state a special status.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad, who served as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, called the verdict "sad and unfortunate" and said, the people of the region are not happy with the verdict but we have to accept it.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not going to lose hope or give up. Our fight for honour and dignity will continue regardless. This isn't the end of the road for us. This is the loss of the idea of India," People's Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti said.
"The hand that you held has been wounded," she said in a video message posted on X.
"Disappointed but not disheartened. The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul," National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on the Supreme Court verdict
"Sad, Unfortunate But We Have To Accept It": Ghulam Nabi Azad
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday termed the Supreme Court's verdict on pleas challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution "sad and unfortunate", but said, "we have to accept it".
"It (the court verdict) is sad and unfortunate," Mr Azad told reporters here.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the people of the region are not happy with the verdict delivered by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court.
"But we have to accept it (the verdict)," he added.
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct elections to the Assembly by September 30 next year.
The Supreme Court also directed that statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir be restored at the earliest.
Justice Kaul: It is for the government to decide the manner in which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission must be set up, considering the sensitivities of the issues involved.
Justice Kaul: I recommend the setting up of an impartial Truth and Reconciliation committee to investigate and report on the violations of human rights both by the State and non-state actors at least since the 1980s and recommend measures for reconciliation.
The Commission must be set up before memory escapes. The exercise must be time-bound.
There is an entire generation of youth that has grown up with a feeling of distrust and it is to them that we owe the greatest day of liberation.
Justice Kaul: I recommend the setting up of an impartial Truth and Reconciliation committee to investigate and report on the violations of human rights both by the State and non-state actors at least since the 1980s and recommend measures for reconciliation.
Justice Kaul: In my epilogue, I said -To move forward, wounds require healing...inter-generational trauma is felt by people. The first step towards healing the wounds is the acknowledgement of the acts of violations done by the State and its actors.
Justice Kaul: Regarding the amendment of Article 370 using 367, I have said when a procedure is prescribed, it has to be followed. Amendment through the backdoor not permissible
Justice Kaul:The purpose of Article 370 was to slowly bring Jammu and Kashmir on par with the other States of India. The requirement of recommendation of J&K Constituent Assembly cannot be read in a manner that makes the larger intention redundant
When the Constituent Assembly ceased to exist, it meant only the proviso to Article 370(3) was rendered otiose. But the main provision existed.
Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul: I have started with historical background...my conclusions are more or less the same, except in one issue, regarding the Prem Nath Kaul case, I have taken different route. Justice Kaul concurred with Chief Justice's decision.
Supreme Court upholds the decision to carve out Ladakh and make it as a Union Territory but refuses to intervene on Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territory as Centre has assured that statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored "at the earliest"
Following Conclusions on the Verdict
a) State of Jammu and Kshmir does not retain any element of sovereignty. It does not have internal sovereignty. Article 370 a feature of asymmetric federalism and not soveriengty.
b)Petitioners did not challenge Presidential Proclamation
C) Exercise of President's power after the proclamation are subject to judicial review.
d) Power of Parliament under Article 356(1) to exercise powers on behalf of State assembly is not restricted to law making powers.
e) Article 370 is a temporary power.
f) Power under Article 370(3) did not cease after the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent assembly ceased to exist.
g) Article 370 cannot be amended by exercise of power under Article 370(1)(d).
Chief Justice of India: The reorganisation of Ladakh as Union Territory is upheld as Article 3 allows a portion of State to be made as UT. The question of whether Parliament can convert a State into a Union Territory is left open.
Supreme Court directs Election Commission of India to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024
Chief Justice of India: The principle of consultation and collaboration was not required to be followed for the exercise of Presidential power.
Concurrence of the State govt was not required to apply all provisions of the Constitution using Article 370(1)(d). So the President taking the concurrence of the Union Govt was not malafide.
We have held that CO 272 to the extent of modifying Article 367 is ultra vires Article 370.
Chief Justice of India: We have held that all provisions of the Constitution of India can be applied to J&K using Article 370(1)(d) in one go. We do not find the use of Presidential power to issue CO 273 was mala fide. Thus we hold the exercise of Presidential Power to be valid.
Chief Justice of India: Court cannot sit in appeal over the decision of the President of India on whether the special circumstances under Article 370 exist. History shows the gradual process of constitutional integration was not going on. It was not as if after 70 years Constitution of India was applied in one go. It was a culmination of the integration process.
Chief Justice of India: Holding that the power under Article 370(3) ceases to exist after the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly will lead to the freezing of the process of integration.
Chief Justice of India: The power of the President under Article 370(3) to issue a notification that Article 370 ceases to exist subsists even after the dissolution of the J&K. The recommendation of the Constituent Assembly was not binding on the President. J&K Constituent Assembly was intended to be a temporary body.
All States in the country have legislative and executive power, albeit to differing degrees. Articles 371 A to 371J are examples of special arrangements for different states. This is an example of asymmetric federalism, says Chief Justice of India.
Article 370 Verdict Live Updates: Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly was not intended to be a permanent body. It was formed only to frame the constitution, the Chief Justice of India ruled.
Article 370 was an interim arrangement due to war conditions in the State. Textual reading also indicate that it is a temporary provision. Marginal note says it is temporary and transitory, says the Chief Justice of India.
Article 370 was a temporary provision, says the Chief Justice of India
Jammu and Kashmir surrendered its complete sovereignty with the merger, Chief Justice of India
Article 370 Verdict Live Updates: Exercise of power under Article 356 must have a reasonable nexus with the objective of the proclamation. Every decision taken by the Union on behalf of the State during Presidential rule is not open to challenge...this will lead to the administration of the state to a standstill, says Chief Justice of India.
Jammu and Kashmir did not retain an element of sovereignty when it joined Union of India, says Chief Justice of India.
The argument of petitioners that the Union cannot take actions with irreversible consequences in the State during Presidential rule is not accepted, says Chief Justice of India.
There are limitations on power of the Union in states when proclamation of presidential rule is in force, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said.
Supreme Court refuses to rule on the validity of the Presidential rule imposed in J&K in December 2018 since it was not specifically challenged by the petitioner, Chief Justice of India said.
Supreme Court Live: Whether the Presidential proclamation valid. Court need not adjudicate on this since petitioners did not challenge it. And in any case it was withdrawn in Oct 2019, Chief Justice of India said.
Article 370 Verdict Live Updates: Whether Presidential order invalid for lack of recommendation of J&K Constituent Assembly, Chief Justice of India said.
Chief Justice Of India: Issue. Whether Article 370 is temporary. b) Whether substitution of 'constituent assembly' by legislative assembly by using 370(1)(d) valid
Chief Justice of India: I will read out the essence. There are three judgments. One by CJI for himself for Justice Gavai and Justice Surya Kant. There is a concurring opinion by Justice Kaul. Justice Sanjiv Khanna has concurred with both.
Article 370 Live Updates: Chief Justice of India along with four other judges arrive in the court.
Article 370 Verdict Live Updates: Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi among others in the front row of Court 1.
Watch: Supreme Court Live Streams Proceedings Of The Article 370 Verdict
Live Updates: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha denied allegations that leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have been put under house arrest. The Lt Governor said the allegations are "totally baseless".
The Presidential Order, Which Scrapped The Special Status, Is Under Challenge In Supreme Court
Article 370 Verdict Live Updates: The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expected to assemble in the court room soon. The counsels are present.
"Some Battles Are Fought To Be Lost": Kapil Sibal Ahead Of Article 370 Verdict
Ahead of the big Supreme Court verdict on the constitutional validity of the Centre's move to scrap Article 370, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said, "Courts, some battles are fought to be lost. For history must record the uncomfortable facts for generations to know."
"The right and wrong of institutional actions will be debated for years to come. History alone is the final arbiter of the moral compass of historic decisions," he posted on X.
Mehbooba Mufti Claims She Has Been Put Under House Arrest In Srinagar
Live Updates: People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti claimed that she has been put under house arrest on Monday ahead of the Supreme Court's verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that conferred a special status on Jammu and Kashmir, her party said.
"Even before Supreme Court judgement is pronounced, police has sealed the doors of the residence of PDP president @MehboobaMufti and put her under illegal house arrest," the party said in a post on X.
Police, however, neither confirmed nor denied the development which came just a few hours before the expected judgement of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, cops did not allow journalists to gather near National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah's residence at Gupkar here, officials said.
A posse of police personnel was deployed at the entry point of Gupkar Road and journalists were not allowed anywhere near the residence of the NC leaders.
Omar Abdullah lives with his father after he vacated his official residence in October 2020.
While Farooq Abdullah, who is the Member of Parliament from Srinagar, is in Delhi for the ongoing Parliament session, his son is in the valley.
No Convoy Movement Allowed In Jammu And Kashmir Today
The officials said no convoy movement will be allowed on Monday as a precautionary measure.
Movement of vehicles escorting or carrying VIPs and protected persons in "troublesome areas" should also be avoided, an advisory issued by the inspector general of police, Kashmir zone to all security forces and senior superintendents of police said.
Security Increased In Jammu and Kashmir Ahead Of Supreme Court Verdict
Security was stepped up across Jammu and Kashmir today ahead of the Supreme Court's verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Security forces have been deployed at many places in the valley to maintain law and order, they added.
Checkpoints have been set up in and around Srinagar city and random frisking and checking of vehicles and people are being done, the officials said.
Checkpoints have also been set up at a few places in other districts of Kashmir.
However, there is no restriction on the movement of people anywhere in the valley, the officials said.
"Life is going on normally. Shops and other business establishments opened in the morning as usual. There are no restrictions anywhere," one of them said.
The officials said the security agencies are keeping a hawk's eye on the situation and attempts to disturb peace will be dealt with sternly.
The Cyber Police, Kashmir, has advised social media users to use the platforms responsibly and refrain from sharing rumours, fake news, hate speeches or obscene, violent and defamatory content.
"Moreover, social media users are cautioned not to indulge in propagation of terrorist and secessionist ideology and false narrative," the Cyber Police said in an advisory.
Article 370 Verdict Live: The Supreme Court proceedings in the matter on the constitutional validity of Centre's move to scrap Jammu and Kashmir's special status will be live-streamed by the court.
The hearing in the Supreme Court is expected to start around 10:30 am
Gupkar Parties vs BJP Ahead Of Supreme Court Verdict On Article 370 Scrapping
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said his party will not disturb the peace in Jammu and Kashmir even in case of an adverse verdict from the Supreme Court on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and will continue its fight per the law.
People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the court's verdict should be clear that the decision taken by the BJP-led central government was "illegal".
The BJP said that there should not be any politics on the Supreme Court ruling and everyone should respect it.
Another former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed hope that the Supreme Court will deliver a verdict in favour of the people.
Centre Has Argued That It's Decisions Are Within Legal Framework
The Centre has argued that its decisions were taken within the legal framework. It has also contended that the mainstreaming of Jammu and Kashmir has reduced terrorism and provided a level playing field.
Over the last four years, it has helped move the erstwhile state on the fast-track to development, the government has argued.
What Supreme Court Said Earlier In The Case
The Supreme Court has questioned who can recommend the revocation of Article 370. Under the rules, a nod is required from the Constituent Assembly to scrap Article 370, which the Constitution held temporarily. The Supreme Court has also asked how the Article became permanent after the Constituent Assembly was dissolved.