Restoration of Statehood in Jammu & Kashmir: Implications and Expert Opinions

Legal experts confirm that restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir from union territory status will not dissolve its new legislative assembly. The Supreme Court upheld Article 370's revocation with elections planned by 2024. This comes amid political pressures and assembly successes for National Conference-Congress combine.

Legal experts have clarified that the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir from its current union territory status will not necessitate the dissolution of its newly elected legislative assembly. This assurance came amid a rising demand for reinstating statehood, a prominent electoral promise by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference.

Renowned constitutional law experts, including senior lawyers Rakesh Dwivedi and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, have conveyed that the legislative assembly will continue functioning uninterrupted. This clarification depoliticizes the statehood restoration debate, given the assembly’s recent constitution since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Earlier, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, upheld the revocation of Article 370 while setting a deadline for new assembly elections. The court urged the Centre to expedite restoring statehood, reinforcing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's assurance that the union territory status is temporary.