Shawdesh desk:

India’s top court on Monday ordered that elections will be held in Jammu & Kashmir next year, after New Delhi revoked its limited autonomy and imposed direct rule on the Muslim-majority region in 2019.

In a judgment, the Supreme Court said Jammu & Kashmir should be put on par with other Indian states “at the earliest and as soon as possible”, with state elections to take place by September 30, 2024.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed a “historic” Supreme Court decision to uphold his government’s revocation of the limited autonomy of Muslim-majority Kashmir.

The ruling was “a beacon of hope, a promise of a brighter future and a testament to our collective resolve to build a stronger, more united India”, the Hindu nationalist leader posted on X, formerly Twitter.