Pandits move SC to support govt decision on Art. 370

New Delhi, Oct. 25: Two Kashmiri Pandits and an apex body of various associations formed by the community have moved the Supreme Court in support of the government’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The plea by Tej Kumar Moza, Karishma Tej Kumar Moza and All India Kashmiri Samaj, seeking to be made parties in the ongoing matter, said that Article 370 was a transitory provision that was enacted keeping in mind the peculiar situation of Jammu and Kashmir and to enable it to completely integrate into the Union of India.

It categorically provides power to the President to cease the operation of the Article through a public notification, the plea said.

“It is therefore, submitted that the formulations and notifications of the 2019 order is in consonance with the provisions of Article 370 and the 2019 Amendment Act is a consequential legislative action that flows from it,” the plea said.

“The Treaty of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir to the Republic of India was an unconditional one and it was always the intention of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to be integrated with the Republic of India. Article 370 was a temporary provision inserted with the object of peace in the state,” the plea said. The petition also stated that Jammu and Kashmir has been consistently threatened by infiltration from Pakistan and China.