Srinagar: Comparing Article 35-A to a marriage-deed, IAS officer Shah Faesal said repealing it will end the relationship and nothing will remain to be discussed afterwards.
The 2010-batch topper from the Valley, Faesal, is the first bureaucrat to join the debate that has united people from all sections of society, including traders and business community, besides separatists and mainstream politicians.
“I would compare Article 35A to a marriage-deed/nikahnama. You repeal it and the relationship is over. Nothing will remain to be discussed afterwards,” Faesal, who is vocal on Twitter about social issues, tweeted.
The IAS officer said that abrogating Article 35-A will end the accession. Replying to a tweet, Faesal said, “Yes and those who say Accession still stands forget that Accession was just like a Roka, because the Constitution had not come into force that time. Can Roka still bind two people together even after the marriage document is annulled?”
However, Faesal, who is in US on a fellowship, said that the Constitution has kept some special provisions for J&K state and it’s a unique arrangement isn’t a threat to India’s integrity. “Sovereignty and integrity of India can’t be challenged,” he added.
“Let’s not confuse the issue. Sovereignty and integrity of India can’t be challenged. Not at all. But the Constitution has kept some special provisions for J&K state. It’s a unique arrangement. It isn’t a threat to India’s integrity at all,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, normal life remained crippled for the second successive day as shop and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in Kashmir valley due to a two-day strike called by separatists till Monday to protest alleged attempts being made to abrogate Article 35-A.
However, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of the case till August 27. A number of writ petitions had been filed challenging Article 35 A, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state. The Article provides special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of the state.
A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprising Justice A M Khanwilkar, said, “We would hear the matter in the week starting from August 27. “A three-judge bench would determine whether the matter is required to be referred to a five-judge bench,” it added.
