Overview
- On Sunday, June 7, 2026 the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court issued an advisory opinion that the 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees enjoy protection under Article 22 and cannot be altered by executive orders, political deals, or street pressure.
- The court said any change, reduction, or abolition of those seats must follow the formal constitutional amendment process set out in Article 33 and that protests or blockades do not justify extra‑constitutional change.
- The opinion is advisory and not an enforceable court order between parties, but it removes key legal uncertainty and directs the Election Commission and authorities to ensure the July 27 election timetable is respected.
- The regional government has moved to proscribe the protest coalition Joint Awami Action Committee and police have detained supporters in recent days as officials cite the court opinion when defending steps to maintain public order during the campaign period.
- The court traced the seats to laws and constitutional instruments from 1960 through the 1970s and noted the 12 seats represent distinct refugee populations, with six for Jammu division refugees and six for Kashmir Valley refugees, a factor that shapes local politics and the coming vote.