Article 370 a Closed Chapter Now

By upholding the Union Government's decision to abrogate the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court has set the final seal on the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian Union.

With the verdict, the special status of Jammu and Kashmir should be considered a closed chapter.

The apex court's judgement will go a long way in bringing about the total integration of the State and extension of all the central laws to the region which has been rendered into two union territories following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5-6, 2019.

By asking the Election Commission to hold election for the region’s legislature, the court has endorsed the people’s urge to have an administration run by their representatives rather than the one headed by a Governor who is essentially viewed as a Centre’s representative appointed to oversee and ensure the compliance with the Constitution.

The court’s order to restore the statehood of the Jammu and Kashmir at an early date should come as a glad tiding for the people in the region who were under the President’s rule for over four years.

It is also befitting of the court to clarify that the State’s Constitution has been rendered inoperative following the application of the Constitution of India in its entirety to the state of Jammu and Kashmir by Constitutional order of 273.

However, it is uncertain how the people in Ladakh would react to the court’s approval for the Union Govt’s right to carve it out as a Union Territory from the state.

The court’s suggestion to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should come as a balm for the populace who have been caught between the militants and separatists on one side and a dispensation on the other side refusing to recognise the special circumstances under which the region acceded to the Indian Union.

It should offer an opportunity to the misguided youth to return the mainstream and be a part of the process of development and progress.