Article 370: people can have different opinion, Justice Kaul

New Delhi: Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who recently retired as a judge of the Supreme Court, said people can have different opinion about the Supreme Court judgment on Article 370, NDTV reported.

Justice Kaul, who was part of the constitution bench that delivered the verdict, reportedly said that it was the unanimous decision of the five judges; however, it is at least their opinion, which was correct in accordance with the law.

‘I believe that if five judges have taken a unanimous decision then at least it is the opinion of these judges that what was done was correct and in accordance with the law,’ NDTV quoted him as saying.

The five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud delivered its verdict earlier this month triggering conversations favouring and opposing it.

While still accepting the court judgment, many political leaders made it clear that their ‘struggle’ will continue.

As per the court’s judgment the Article 370 of the Constitution was temporary in nature and its removal was correct in terms of procedure, according to the report.

However Justice Kaul said that the SC bench pinned down on two questions while approaching the issue: first, whether the Article 370 was a temporary provision; second, whether the Centre followed the correct legal procedure.

Justice Kaul reportedly added that full assimilation of the region was found to be ‘correct legal position’.

As for the procedure that was employed, the court looked into the ground reality of the state having no assembly at the time and the power resting with the Centre.

‘The people are entitled to a different opinion of it, so what,’ Justice Kaul was quoted as saying.

All five judges reportedly agreed that Article 370 was a temporary position settling the first question.