India’s Supreme Court has issued a directive to the election commission, mandating elections in the Jammu and Kashmir region by September 30, 2024.
The court also affirmed the reorganization of Ladakh as a Union Territory, a move initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in 2019.
The End of Special Status:
The Supreme Court, in its Monday ruling, declared that the special status previously accorded to the Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir was a temporary provision. This comes in the aftermath of the special status revocation in 2019.
According to the court’s decision, the reorganization of Ladakh as a Union Territory has been upheld.
This move is part of the larger integration process initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration in 2019.
Implications for Regional Elections:
The court’s directive, embedded within the verdict on petitions challenging the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, paves the way for regional elections.
This marks a significant step in the political integration of the area into the broader Indian governance structure.
