Shah Faesal, an IAS officer who had previously raised objections against the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, has expressed his approval of the Supreme Court's recent decision affirming the validity of scrapping Article 370. In his response on Monday, Faesal emphasized that the court's ruling reiterates the unity of India and underscores that genuine empowerment is derived from collective unity.
Both Shah Faesal and former student leader Shehla Rashid were among the several petitioners who contested the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. However, in July of this year, they withdrew their pleas from the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court's recent affirmation of the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 prompted Faesal to welcome the verdict. In his statement, he asserted that Article 370, which conferred special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was not akin to a "Noah's Ark" but rather resembled an "old, broken ship" that would have posed a threat to the region's future stability.
Faesal conveyed his positive sentiments on social media, stating, “Article 370 was no Noah's Ark. It was an old, broken ship, that would have sunk us in the future. Let's welcome the crossover. Supreme Court has affirmed once again that India is united and true empowerment is in being together. Post-370 future belongs to all. Wishing great success to the people of J&K in their pursuit for peace and prosperity.”
Shah Faesal initially gained recognition in 2009 as the first Kashmiri to secure the top position in the civil services (UPSC) exam. Despite this achievement, he resigned from his post in 2019 and established the Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM) party. Subsequently, he was detained under the stringent Public Safety Act immediately after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.
However, Faesal later withdrew his resignation, and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) reinstated him to the position of Deputy Secretary in the Tourism Ministry in the previous year.
