India's Supreme Court on Monday upheld Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government's decision to end the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir, which has seen decades of insurgency.
The 2019 decision, which allowed New Delhi to directly administer this Muslim-majority region of Jammu and Kashmir, represented “a culmination of the integration process and therefore a valid exercise of power,” the country's highest court said in its ruling.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately welcomed the decision, which he described as “historic.” It is “a glimmer of hope, the promise of a better future and a testament to our shared determination to build a stronger and more united India,” said the Hindu nationalist leader on X (ex-Twitter).
India's Supreme Court on Monday also ordered elections to be held in Jammu and Kashmir next year, saying they should be put on par with other Indian states “earlier and as soon as possible” and a vote must be organized by September 30, 2024 .
The revocation of Kashmir's limited autonomy was accompanied by the imposition of direct rule by New Delhi, mass arrests, a total shutdown of that state and a months-long communications blackout as India increased its forces in the region to contain protests.
The decision was challenged by Kashmir's pro-India political parties, the local bar association and individuals, leading to Monday's verdict.
Prime Minister Modi's tough policies sparked intense controversy in Kashmir but have been widely celebrated across India as the insurgency that left tens of thousands dead for decades has largely subsided.