Experts differ on govt's decision on A-370; some hail, others call it 'misadventure'

The government's decision to abrogate Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, evoked mixed response from legal experts on Monday as some hailed it as "historic" and "long overdue" step while others called it "political misadventure" fraught with danger.

The Modi government has abolished Article 370 and simultaneously moved a separate bill to bifurcate the state into two separate Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Senior advocate and constitutional law expert Rakesh Dwivedi said: "It (the decision) is completely legal. There is no chance of succeeding of plea against the government's decision."
"It was a long overdue historic step. It should go and it is no more required. It is a welcome step. Kashmir was also open for outsiders so I don't understand why there should be Article 35 A."
On the other hand, former Union Law minister and senior Congress leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar said, "The decision of the Union govt to alter the status of the Jammu and Kashmir is fraught with serious political consequences for the nation."