The debate surrounding the Constitution’s Article 35A is slowly turning up into a major legal and constitutional law following a petition filed in the Supreme Court that has sought the abrogation of the article.
The said Article pressed into action through a Presidential order gives powers to the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define permanent residents of the state and their privileges.
In the process, ‘Indians’ from the rest of the country and even Kashmiri women married outside their caste to an Indian residing in other parts of India cannot purchase land in Jammu and Kashmir.
The petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking abrogation of Article 35A maintains that the presidential order was not ratified by Parliament and hence it did not have the legitimacy.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today afternoon reached New Delhi today and met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and will be meeting Prime Minister in the backdrop of political row over a petition in Supreme Court seeking scrapping of Article 35-A.
Mehbooba will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and other leaders to discuss consequences of striking down of the article.
“The chief minister will meet Prime Minister tomorrow to apprise him of the importance of protection of Article 35-A for the interest of the state and the rest of the country,” Naeem Akhtar, Government spokesman and Minister for Public Works, said.
The CM called on Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him of the situation in the valley and the row over the Article 35-A.
Mehbooba is also likely to meet leaders of other political parties over the issue of Article 35-A.
Before leaving for New Delhi, the CM met Governor N N Vohra today morning.