'No Special Status For J&K': In Historic Verdict, Supreme Court Upholds Abrogation Of Article 370

The apex court also urged the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible.

"Hold elections by September 30, 2024. Restore statehood as early as possible," the top court said, while delivering its judgment.

1. "Article 370 is a temporary provision. Abrogation is valid exercise of constitutional power."

2. "Parliament is within its powers to make changes to Article 370 of the Constitution."

3. "President had the power to issue the order under clause 3 of Article 370 even after dissolution of the constituent assembly."

4. "J&K does not retain an element of sovereignty or internal sovereignty when it joined the Union of India. Recommendations of the Constituent Assembly are not required for abrogation when it stands dissolved."

5. "The power of the President under Article 370(3) to issue a notification that Article 370 ceases to exist subsists even after the dissolution of the J&K Constituent Assembly."

6. "Parliament can assume the role of the constituent Assembly to make the amendments."

7. "With constituent assembly dissolved, President can act on his own: Article 370 (3) provides modalities for amendment or revocation of Article 370. Originally, the rule was revocation can be done only by President on a request/recommendation/concurrence/approval of Constituent Assembly. That need does not arise once the Constituent Assembly was dissolved in 1957.

Responding to the verdict, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, "Disappointed but not disheartened. The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul."

As a precautionary measure, just ahead of the key verdict, security arrangements were put in place in Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti claimed being put in house arrest ahead of the judgement. However, the police denied the charges and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called the allegations baseless.