Supreme Court asks Centre to respond on plea challenging provisions of J&K’s constitution

The Supreme Court on Friday asked Centre to respond on plea challenging few provisions of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitution (Section 6 and Article 35A).

According to the petitioner, these provision states that if a girl marries a person outside Jammu and Kashmir then she will lose all the rights regarding property, employment in the area. Along with that, the children will not be given Permanent Resident Certificate.

The provisions also mention that people who don’t belong to Jammu and Kashmir cannot buy real estate in the state. People belonging to other states in the country cannot buy franchise as well.

Because of Article 35A, despite living for more than six decades, people migrating from western Pakistan, Balmiki people, Gorkhas cannot apply for government jobs and their children cannot enroll in vocational education.

Apart from this, while Jammu and Kashmir’s Non-Permanent Resident Certificate holders can vote in Lok Sabha elections but he is not allowed to cast his vote in local body elections.

The Supreme Court has asked Solicitor General to put forward the Centre’s stand on the matter on next hearing date of August 14.