Petition seeking disbanding of VDC moved in JK High Court

A petition was moved in Jammu and Kashmir High Court today seeking disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDC), contending that they are "extra-constitutional bodies" and have no legal sanctity.
Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) filed the petition challenging the 1995 order of state government, that authorises the creation of VDCs.
The regional party, having a legislator in the state Assembly, claimed in the petition that, "the VDCs have been a threat to the communal harmony and to the lives and the property of the people right from the day they came into existence."
"We are seeking quashing of state government's Order No. 293 of 1995, which authorises the state government to constitute Village Defence Committees," AIP General Secretary Nazir Ahmad Malik said.

He said the petition seeks disbanding of VDCs, which are "extra-constitutional bodies" and have no legal sanctity.
"In our petition, we have sought directions from the court that all the arms, ammunition and other accessories be immediately taken from them and government stop funding these extra constitutional bodies which are indulged in grave human rights violations," Malik said.

The petition also seeks orders from the court to ask State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) or some other independent credible commission to look into the "atrocities committed by VDCs" in the state especially in the Jammu region.
"We have also sought a complete ban on making any recruitment in the name of VDCs in the state as the formation of these VDCs is unconstitutional," he added.

Several political outfits, mainly separatist groups, have called for disbanding of the VDCs, alleging that these groups were used against the majority community and have played a role in the recent communal riots in Kishtwar town.