Digital Desk: The Election Commission of India (ECI) was directed by the Supreme Court on Monday to schedule elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024. The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, that gave the state a special status. 

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud led a five-judge Constitution panel that included Justices Gavai, Surya Kant, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Sanjiv Khanna. The bench had assembled at 10.56 am to pronounce the judgements.

"We order that the Election Commission of India take action to hold elections for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly by September 30. Statehood restoration shall occur as soon as possible, " the CJI DY Chandrachud stated.

Supreme Court upholds Article 370's abrogation

The government's decision to abrogate Article 370, which gave the former state of Jammu and Kashmir special status, was supported by the Supreme Court on Monday. Article 370 of the Constitution, according to CJI DY Chandrachud, is a clause that is only meant to last temporarily and can be revoked by the president.

He asserted that the former state of Jammu and Kashmir has no unique internal sovereignty with other member states of the nation. "It was never the intention of the Constituent Assembly of J&K to be a permanent body," the Chief Justice said.

'Union Territory of Ladakh valid', says Supreme Court

Concurrently, the decision to divide Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territory of Ladakh was affirmed by the Supreme Court. "We uphold the validity of the decision to carve Union Territory of Ladakh out of Jammu and Kashmir," the Supreme Court stated.