Article 370 granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it autonomy and a separate constitution, but was abrogated on August 5, 2019, leading to significant political and legal changes.
The Government of India issued a Presidential Order superseding the 1954 order and making all the provisions of the Indian constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. The order was based on the resolution passed in both houses of India's parliament with two-thirds majority.
The removal of Article 370, revoking J&K’s special status, achieved a long-standing BJP goal.
The bold and strategic approach took many by surprise, showcasing a masterclass in political maneuvering, particularly in navigating it through the Rajya Sabha without a clear majority. Along the way, Modi and Amit Shah dismantled several longstanding beliefs: the necessity of the separatist Hurriyat, the fear of stone-throwing mobs dominating the streets of the Valley, the need for dialogue with supporters of terrorism, and the anticipation of a hostile global reaction that had shaped previous governments’ handling of the Kashmir issue.
A total of 23 petitions were presented to the Supreme Court of India, challenging the constitutionality of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which constituted a five-judge bench for the same. On 11 December 2023, a five-judge constitution bench unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
Post-abrogation management played a key role, with elections deemed fair, a decline in terrorism and local recruitment, and growth in tourism and infrastructure. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in J&K, held after a long gap, saw a turnout of 58.6%, the highest in decades.