The Supreme Court of India has affirmed the legality of the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5th.

The Supreme Court of India (SCI) has declined to make a determination on the constitutional validity of the Central government's decision to abolish 'Article 370,' which granted special status to the contested region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Following a 16-day-long hearing, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment on September 5.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court stated that the 2019 revocation of Article 370 was "the result of the integration process and is therefore a legitimate exercise of power."

The decision to revoke Article 370 was accompanied by the imposition of direct rule from New Delhi, widespread arrests, an extended lockdown, and a communication blackout that lasted for months. India also deployed additional armed forces to the region to quell protests.

Prime Minister Modi's assertive policy in Kashmir has stirred controversy locally but received widespread approval in India, leading to a significant reduction in the insurgency that had claimed many lives over several decades.

Various parties, including pro-India political groups in Kashmir, the local Bar Association, and individual litigants, challenged the move, leading to the Supreme Court's recent verdict.

While the court upheld the removal of the region's autonomy, it recommended restoring Jammu & Kashmir to the status of any other Indian state, without separate autonomy rights, "at the earliest and as soon as possible." Additionally, the court mandated state elections to be held by September 30, 2024.

Politicians in Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir rejected the Supreme Court of India's verdict on Article 370, which nullified the special status of the region. Conversely, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the Supreme Court's decision, describing it as "historic" and a "beacon of hope" in a post on social media platform X.