India's Supreme Court was considering several petitions that challenged a 2019 decision that revoked the region's limited autonomy and imposed direct rule.
India's Supreme Court has upheld a 2019 move by the Indian government to revoke a special semi-autonomous status granted to Jammu and Kashmir.
The court said that the special status given to the territory was a "temporary provision."
It also said that Jammu and Kashmir should be put on par with other Indian states "at the earliest and as soon as possible," with state elections to take place by September 30, 2024.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the Supreme court ruling on social media, calling the verdict "a beacon of hope, a promise of a brighter future and a testament to our collective resolve to build a stronger, more united India."
What was the case about?
More than 20 petitions had challenged the controversial abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by Modi's Hindu-nationalist government.
The petitioners had contested whether the Indian parliament had the power to revoke the region’s special status, maintaining that only the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir could decide on it.
Article 370 had bestowed a special status to the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir and had allowed for limited autonomy, including a separate constitution and inherited protections on land and jobs.
The revocation was accompanied by the imposition of direct rule in Jammu and Kashmir from New Delhi.
The region was also divided into two federal territories, Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir, both ruled directly by the central government in New Delhi without a legislature of their own.
The controversial move was followed by massive public backlash. India responded with mass arrests, a complete lockdown and communication blackout that was in place for months as India propped up its armed forces.
Source: Dw
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