Article 370
Article 370 was a provision in the Indian Constitution that gave special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. It allowed the state to have its own constitution, flag, and autonomy over most of its affairs, except for defense, foreign affairs, and communications. It was based on the Instrument of Accession signed by the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1947, when he agreed to join the Indian Union after the partition of British India
Article 370 was a temporary and transitional provision, which meant that it could be modified or revoked by the President of India, with the concurrence of the state government. However, since the state’s Constituent Assembly dissolved itself in 1957 without recommending any changes to Article 370, it became a de facto permanent feature of the Indian Constitution
In August 2019, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, abrogated Article 370 by issuing a presidential order that superseded the previous order of 1954, which defined the constitutional relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India. The presidential order made all the provisions of the Indian Constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, effectively ending its special status. The government also passed a bill in the Parliament that bifurcated the state into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh
The abrogation of Article 370 was challenged in the Supreme Court of India by several petitions, which argued that it violated the basic structure of the Constitution, the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and the principles of federalism and democracy. The government defended its decision by citing the need to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, to ensure its security and development, and to combat terrorism and separatism
On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, upholding the constitutionality of the abrogation of Article 370. The court ruled that Article 370 was not a permanent or essential feature of the Constitution, and that the President had the power to modify or revoke it with the concurrence of the Governor, who acted as the representative of the state government. The court also said that the reorganization of the state into two union territories was valid, and that the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir should be granted statehood as soon as possible. The court also directed the government to hold elections in the assembly by September 30, 2024
The movie titled “Article 370,” which is set to release on February 23, 2024, has garnered attention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He praised the film for its potential to provide accurate information about the real-life issues it portrays. The film, starring Yami Gautam, is directed by Aaditya Suhas and Jambhale and is based on the backdrop of true events related to Article 370.
The original Article 370 was a provision in the Indian Constitution that granted special status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It allowed the state to have its own constitution, a state flag, and autonomy over internal matters. However, this special status was abrogated on August 5, 2019, when the Government of India issued a Presidential Order making all provisions of the Indian Constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. This move also led to the reorganization of the state into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The film “Article 370” seems to explore the events and implications surrounding this significant constitutional change. With the support of PM Modi, it aims to shed light on the subject and possibly provide a narrative that aligns with the government’s perspective on the abrogation of Article 370.