India’s Supreme Court has upheld the government’s 2019 move to revoke the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir, ending a long-standing provision that granted the region a degree of autonomy. The decision, delivered by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and a five-judge bench, marks a significant moment in India’s constitutional history. The special status granted under Article 370 allowed Kashmir to maintain its own constitution, flag, and criminal code. However, the court highlighted that this provision was a result of war conditions at the time, and the removal of such autonomy in 2019 was in accordance with the constitution. This move brought Jammu and Kashmir in line with the status of other Indian states, with no separate autonomy rights. The revocation of Article 370 from the Constitution of India was a key campaign promise of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019. The court’s ruling affirms the constitutional validity of this decision, emphasizing that Article 370 was always intended as a temporary provision, particularly during the turbulent circumstances surrounding the state’s accession to India in 1947.

As per news report of Deccan Herald, the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir has led to a surge in industrial investments, reaching the highest levels in the past decade. In the financial year 2022-23, the Union Territory attracted investments of Rs 2153.45 crore, with Rs 1752.1 crore realized in the first six months of the current financial year. The government’s focus on industrial development aims to generate significant employment in the next five years, with Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta expressing commitment to supporting entrepreneurs contributing to the region’s growth. Photo Courtesy : Live Law The verdict, while celebrated by millions across Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India, has its roots in a complex history. The region has been a longstanding point of contention between India and Pakistan since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Both nuclear-armed neighbours have fought multiple wars over control of the Himalayan territory.