Abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India: Socio-Economic and Political Implications on Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

The paper briefly analyses the integration of the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union through the Instrument of Accession (1947) under the pretext of Article 370 of the Indian constitution. Article 370 provided a special position to the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the quasi – federal – oriented polity of India as envisaged in its constitutional set up. It explores legal nature and character of the Article 370 within the Indian Constitution, and also highlights the true nature and meaning of autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian Union. The author tries to highlight how after seventy four years Indian govt. arbitrarily and unilaterally abrogated Article 370 without the consent of Jammu and Kashmir constituent Assembly/Elected Government. This paper also analyses social, economic and political implications of abrogation of Article 370. It further highlights the exploitative nature of Indian government which was once upon a time a defender of democratic values and means.