NEW DELHI: The Indian Supreme Court has dismissed petitions filed against the abolition of the special status of occupied Kashmir under Article 370 by the Modi regime.
The court in its unanimous judgement stated that the grant of the special status to the area was a temporary arrangement.
The court also directed the election commission to hold election in Kashmir by September 30, 2024.
“Article 370 of the Constitution was an interim arrangement due to war conditions in state. Constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was never intended to be permanent body,” stated the court verdict.
It added that the 2019 declaration was “a culmination of the process of integration and as such is a valid exercise of power.”
On August 5, 2019, the Modi regime abolished the special status of occupied Kashmir under 370.
This move allowed people from the rest of the country to have the right to acquire property in held Kashmir and settle there permanently.
Kashmiris, international organisations and critics of India’s Hindu nationalist-led government had termed the move an attempt to dilute the demographics of Muslim-majority Kashmir with Hindu settlers.
The court had reserved its verdict on the petitions on September 5 and announced it today.
A five-member bench of the court headed by its chief justice continued hearing for 16 consecutive days of the 20 applications.
The petitioners requested the court to restore Article 370 and the special status of occupied Kashmir.
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