- Home ministry officials has said that the Instrument of Accession signed with 562 princely states during the time of Independence was similar to the one signed with J&K.
- This statement was made to provide a legal basis for the amendment to Article 370 taking away the special status of Jammu & Kashmir.
- They said that the accession agreement was never an impediment for the merger of other States with India.Further,Article 370 could also be removed as it was not part of the original agreement.
- J&K acceded to the Dominion of India after the Instrument of Accession was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh,the ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, on 26 October,1947.
- The accession agreement was to accede in respect of only the following subjects namely Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communications and ancillary that included matters related to courts and election.
- Article 370 of the Indian Constitution had provided that only Articles 1 and 370 itself would apply to J&K.The application of other Articles was to be determined by the President in consultation with the government of the state.
