SC should not wait any longer to hear pleas challenging Article 35A: NC

Article 35A empowers the J&K state's legislature to define 'permanent residents' of the state and provide special rights

National Conference (NC) leader Mustafa Kamal on Monday said that Supreme Court should not wait any longer to hear petitions on Article 35A that preserves the rights of local residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

"This special law of the state was implemented in 1927 in Jammu and Kashmir on orders of Maharaja Hari Singh. This enabled the safety of the rights of the local residents. It is because of this that neither anyone from outside the state was able to buy any property or get employment in the state. This decision was taken very thoughtfully so the Supreme Court should not wait any longer," Kamal told ANI.

Kamal also said that there was no problem with the law until recently, but now "opportunist" people were trying to play politics over the issue.

"Since last 65-70 years there have been no problem with this law, but these people are finding the problem in it today. This, firstly, involves a doubt that these opportunist people are trying to play politics with this law. "

Kamal also said that the people of Kashmir will come on roads if there is any meddling with Article 35A.

"Every person who loves Jammu and Kashmir will come on roads if there is any meddling with the law. A strong agitation will be carried out. Every citizen says if they want to change the state's status it will happen over their bodies."

The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define "permanent residents" of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.

Article 35A was added to the Constitution by a Presidential Order in 1954 and accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of the Jammu and Kashmir. It also empowers the state's legislature to frame any law without attracting a challenge on grounds of violating the Right to Equality of people from other states or any other right under the Indian Constitution.