(Image source from: news18.com)
Supreme Court of India likely to hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A which provides special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The hearing could have been listed from February 26 and 28.
There is unrest in entire state of Jammu and Kashmir amid speculations are that government may change its stand on crucial constitutional validity.
Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said, “Don't play with fire; don't fiddle with Article-35A, else you will see what you haven't seen since 1947, if it's attacked then I don't know which flag people of J&K will be forced to pick up instead of the tricolour.”
The Article 35A was incorporated in the Constitution in 1954 through a presidential order on recommendations of the then PM Jawahar Lal Nehru’s cabinet. This provision gives J&K legislature right to decide who are permanent residents of the state and ensure their special rights and privileges in government jobs, scholarships, aids and acquisition of property. No nonstate subject can buy land or settle permanently in J&K
-Sai Kumar
