A one-page judgment pronounced by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court 42 years ago is proving to be an irrefutable thorn on the Centre’s claim that “breakdown of constitutional machinery” in Jammu and Kashmir led to President’s rule under Article 356 in December 2018 and heralded events leading to the abrogation of Article 370 and abolition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The case concerns former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
The miniscule verdict, containing just one paragraph, was produced by senior advocate Shekhar Naphade before a five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud hearing the challenge to the repeal of Article 370 from the Indian Constitution.
