By- Srushti sharma
The Supreme Court's Constitution bench on Monday upheld the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
SC announced its judgment on a series of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of J&K into two Union territories.
The five-judge bench also ordered the Election Commission to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024.
The court refused to rule on the validity of the Presidential rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir in Dec 2018.
The SC also said that the reference to sovereignty remains absent in Jammu and Kashmir’s constitution. "We have held that Article 370 is a temporary provision," said the CJI.
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," the CJI said.
Ending a decades long debate, the Constitution bench delivered three concurring judgements
The central government further asserted that the status of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory is only temporary and that it will be restored to statehood, while Ladakh will remain a Union Territory.
On August 5, 2019, the central government announced the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status granted under Article 370 and the division of the region into two union territories.