The Legitimate Online Resolution
Jammu: As the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is growing against the attempts for abrogation of article 35A, as many as 300 lawyers in Jammu region have passed the resolution to support and fight for the retention of article 35-A of Indian constitution that grants the special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to press handout by the lawyers in Jammu, more than 300 Lawyers of Jammu unanimously have passed a resolution for strengthening and retention of Article 35-A of the Constitution of India.
It reports that the meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senior Advocate A.V. Gupta (Former President Bar Association Jammu) at Justice Vinod Gupta Bar Hall, High Court.
Speaking on the occasion, the pres release writes that Adv. Gupta said that Late Maharaja Hari Singh had executed instrument of Accession with certain conditions which later came out in the shape of Article 35-A read with Article 370 of the Constitution of India.
Gupta further said that Article 35-A is beneficial for the permanent residents of J&K State and one of the examples he quoted is free education from Class 1st upto University Level.
“Those who are for scrapping of Article 35-A should first surrender their permanent resident certificates and then work in the State,” He added.
He urged that Jammu people must support their Kashmiri brethren on the issue of retention of Article 35-A as the State of J&K has its own identity and special status guaranteed under Article 370.
The other prominent lawyers who expressed their views in favour of retention of Article 35-A were Mohd. Aslam Goni (Senior Advocate and Former Advocate General), S.C. Gupta (Former Sr. AAG), K.K. Pangotra (Former Assistant Solicitor General of India), Abdul Hamid Qazi (Former AAG), Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, Pawan Kundal, Murtaza Khan (Ex-MLC), M.R. Qureshi (Ex-MLC), Ehsan Mirza (Former AAG), Shah Mohammad Choudhary, A.H. Bhat (Former Govt. Advocate).
Former Advocate General and Senior Advocate M.A. Goni lambasted the critics of Article 35-A and strongly expressed the need of creating mass awareness amongst the people of J&K State regarding the retention of Article 35-A.
Goni quoted several Judgments of the Apex Court and State High Court and was of the view that petitions challenging Article 35-A are not maintainable and further said that there is a dire need for protecting the Unique Identity of J&K State.
Former ASGI K.K. Pangotra strongly advocated the retention of Article 35-A and further submitted that it is only Jammu people who will be adversely affected with the influx of huge population from other States of India as no one will settle in Kashmir Valley and only the resources of Jammu shall be exploited at the cost of Jammu people.
Advocate Supriya Chouhan while speaking for the retention of Article 35-A submitted that Article 35-A protects and saves the local laws of State of Jammu and Kashmir and also speaks about certain rights and privileges given to the Permanent Residents of J&K State. She had a dig on the critics of Article 35-A that the people who want scrapping of this Article should be ready to surrender the amenities and concessions being permanent residents of the State before demanding scrapping of this Article.
Similar views were expressed by Advocates Rupika and Monika Bhagat. Advocate Zahida Parveen also spoke on the occasion and strongly advocated the retention of Article 35-A.
Former President Bar Association Doda Syed Asim Hashmi and Former President Bar Association Poonch Raja Mohammad Abbas Khan also spoke on the occasion and complimented the senior members of Jammu Bar for organizing a meet to discuss the Constitutional aspect of Article 35-A.
Both of them extended full cooperation and support of Peer Panchal and Chenab Valley Lawyers and urged Jammu Lawyers to visit Muffasil Bars and entire Jammu Province for creating mass awareness regarding the retention of Article 35-A.
Today number of Muffasil/District Bars also held interactions on the retention of Article 35-A and in this regard Advocate Haq Nawaz Mirza President Bar Association Rajouri strongly supported the retention of Article 35-A and similar were the views expressed by Advocate Yasir Janjua President Bar Association Surankote. Advocate Basharat Khan President Bar Association Mendhar expressed similar views alongwith Advocates Sarwar Chouhan and Akbar Janjua for the retention of Article 35-A.
Advocate Ch. Nazir President Bar Association Budhal/ Koteranka (Rajouri) and Advocate Shaheen Ajaz President Bar Association Thanamandi also expressed similar views for the retention of Article 35-A.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed conducted the proceedings of the meeting and thanked all the participants for enlightening the members of legal fraternity about the significance of Article 35-A and Article 370.
Similar views were expressed by Advocates A.H. Qazi (Former AAG), Murtaza Khan (Ex-MLC), M.R. Qureshi (Ex-MLC), Ehsan Mirza (Former AAG), Shah Mohammad Choudhary, Sarfaraz Hamid Rather, Mohd. Aslam Bhat, Ayaz Hamal, M.I. Sherkhan, Altaf Hussain Janjua, Sheikh Altaf Hussain, F.S. Butt, Mohd. Irfaan Khan, N.D. Qazi, Zulker Nain Sheikh, Ajaz Chowdhary, Mumtaz Choudhary, Javed Iqbal, Sheikh Ayaz Hussain, H.A. Farooqi, Wasim Akram, Kh. Mohd. Rashid, Sikander Hayat Khan, Zaheer Kamlak, Z.A. Mughal, Waseem Bukhari, Mohd. Ayaz Khan, Sarfaraz Bukhari.
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