CJI Gavai: Article 370 opposed Ambedkar's vision of one Constitution for India

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud-led bench member, Justice B.R. Gavai, has stated that Article 370 stood in direct contradiction to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of "One Nation, One Constitution." Speaking at a recent legal forum, CJI Gavai emphasized that Ambedkar strongly believed in uniform constitutional provisions across all states to maintain the unity and integrity of India.

"Article 370 was never in line with Dr. Ambedkar's philosophy," CJI Gavai noted, referencing the temporary constitutional provision that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He further added, "Ambedkar was deeply committed to the idea that India should have a single constitutional framework binding every citizen equally."

The remarks come in the backdrop of ongoing debates and legal discussions surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The provision had granted Jammu and Kashmir a degree of autonomy — including its own constitution and decision-making powers in many areas — which was seen by many as an anomaly in India's federal structure.

Justice Gavai underlined that Ambedkar, as the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, had reportedly opposed the inclusion of Article 370 from the very beginning. He viewed it as a divisive measure that created unequal standards of governance among Indian states.

Legal experts and scholars have echoed similar sentiments, arguing that Article 370 hindered full integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union and delayed socio-political and economic reforms in the region.

CJI Gavai's statement reaffirms the judiciary’s interpretation that constitutional unity was a cornerstone of Ambedkar’s legacy — one that Article 370 temporarily diluted until its revocation.