open view news desk

JAMMU, NOVEMBER 6: A few months ago, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were enjoying the status of a State on one hand and a special status on the other hand due to article 370 incorporated in the Constitution of India after the Jammu and Kashmir was acceded to India by executing the instrument of accession by Maharaja in the similar manner as other princely states executed with India. During the existence of article 370, the State of Jammu and Kashmir was having its own Flag apart from having the National Flag and apart from it this state was also having its own J&K Constitution.

The present Union government led by Prime Minister Sh. Narender Modi by promulgating Presidential order had abrogated the article 370 and further stripped the status of Jammu and Kashmir from a State to the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and will be directly under the control of the Union government of India. The reason behind this move is clearly stated in the statement of objects and reasons quoted in “The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.”

The essence of abrogation of article 370 is the stripping its facts and benefits that is the special status which the State of Jammu and Kashmir, now Union territory was enjoying and now will be no more available and enjoyable by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The lawyers in Jammu have gone into indefinite strike on twin issues which pertains to the divesting of the registration powers from the judicial officers and conferring the same to the executive revenue authorities and shifting of the present High court premises.

It is pertinent to understand that before the abrogation of article 370, the powers of registering documents of various natures were vested in the Judicial magistrates under the J&K Registration Act which now after its abrogation has been transferred to the revenue authorities because of the repeal of the act. which the lawyer’s fraternity staunchly objects and demands its reversal and similarly they object the move of the concerned authorities to shift the well placed Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Jammu to some other identified place which is not required at all according to the Bar.

Today it was fourth day of their indefinite strike and there seems to be no development so far but while addressing the members of the Jammu Bar, Sh. Abhinav Sharma, President of the Bar Association Jammu assured the fraternity that they will surely succeed in their demands and also requested the members to exercise utmost restraint and beware of political elements.

The work in all the courts both District and High Court remained paralyzed fourth day also and the litigants were also not allowed to enter into the courts.