The Supreme Court of India on Monday upheld the Modi government's decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status granted by Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, a move that saw increased hostilities between India and Pakistan back in 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the SC verdict “historic”, adding that the ruling “constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India”.
Security Beefed up in Kashmir Amid SC Verdict on Article 370
In Kashmir, the ruling came amid a massive security build-up, with thousands of police officials and paramilitary forces deployed to prevent social unrest as a possible fallout of the Supreme Court's decision.
The police had set up checkpoints in areas most vulnerable to violent demonstrations: for nearly a week, the paramilitaries had been conducting round the clock frisking of civilians and checking of private vehicles which only intensified on Monday.
Additionally, police had issued official warnings asking people not to misuse social media even booking few individuals ahead of the Supreme Court decision.
Key politicians of the region, including two former state chiefs, accused police of not allowing them to leave their residence - however, no orders of "house arrest" had been issued, the police clarified.
What Did Article 370 Provide?
The Kashmir region, claimed in entirety by India and Pakistan but administered partially by both the countries, has been a major conflict of South Asia with both nuclear nations having fought several wars over it since 1947.
The Indian-administered part of Kashmir was granted a special status under Article 370 after the Hindu Dogra ruler of the Muslim majority state decided to join the Union of India. This provision Kashmir to have its own flag, constitution, and provided exclusive rights for locals to avail government jobs and own land.
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld that the state of Jammu and Kashmir “doesn't retain any sovereignty”. “It doesn't have internal sovereignty separate from the powers of other states”, the court said.
At the same time, the chief justice of India stated that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir be restored at the earliest and elections be held there in 2024.
What Politicians and Locals in Kashmir Say About SC Verdict
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a statement issued on social media X (formerly Twitter) said, “Today's Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is historic and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India on 5th August 2019; it is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The Court, in its profound wisdom, has fortified the very essence of unity that we, as Indians, hold dear and cherish above all else”.
For opposition parties in Kashmir, however, the verdict means a defeat in legal battle for the special status of the erstwhile state.
“Unfortunately, we could not convince the honourable judges for which we are not only sad, but we apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and those outside who wanted us to win this legal battle from the core of my heart,” said former state chief Omar Abdullah.
Former state chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed hope that people of Kashmir should not feel "disheartened."
Talking to Sputnik, local residents said they weren't particularly surprised by the Supreme Court's decision.
"It is definitely not surprising. The judgement has come on expected lines but I think what we would have expected was at least a criticism the manner in which article 370 was revoked. The communication blackout, mass arrests and so on," said a business owner in Srinagar.
A Kashmiri resident lamented that following the SC verdict, regional parties would have no political agenda now, because they had been raking the issue of Kashmir's semiautonomy for the last five years.
Another resident, however, welcomed the decision, expressing hope that the region would see uninterrupted development from now on.