The Supreme Court of India will pronounce its verdict on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India, Dy Chandra Chur, along with four other senior judges, namely Justice SK Kaul, Sanjeev Khanna, BR Gavai, and Suryakant, will pronounce the decision reserved after a 16-day hearing against the center's August 2019 move.
The Apex Court started hearing the pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 on 2nd August 2023, and after 16 days, the court reserved its verdict on September 5th, which will be pronounced today.
Ahead of the Judgment Day, the center has already directed the local administration to deploy adequate security measures to ensure peace in the valley. A senior police officer stated, "We are duty-bound to ensure that peace prevails in the valley under all circumstances." According to reports, internet services have also been snapped in some parts of the Kashmir Valley, and police have issued guidelines for social media users to stop the spread of any hateful content. The guideline shared by the police reads, "If you receive a message containing objectionable content, then report it immediately to the nearest police station or police post with a screenshot and detailed information."
In 2019, the Narendra Modi government had decided to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by repealing the provisions under Article 370 and 35A. The state was also granted a status on par with other states and Union territories of the country. This decision was one of the most contentious in recent times and had triggered a wave of criticism, compelling many activists and political opponents to question the move in the Supreme Court.
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