Don’t invoke new domicile law till the popular govt takes charge: Soz to Centre

Srinagar: Senior Parliament and former Union Minister Prof Saif Ud Din Soz on Saturday said that any change in the state subject laws implemented since the reign of late Mahraja Partap Singh and allowed to continue by Mahraja Hari Singh will have dangerous consequences and impressed upon the central government to it for the new popular government to decide the issue as the matter is sub judicious pending disposal before the Supreme Court of the country
In a statement issued her on Saturday Soz said “Jammu and Kashmir State’s domicile laws were conceived in Maharaja Pratap Singh’s time, but, these laws were framed later in Maharaja Hari Singh’s time”, adding that “democratic administration embodied the domicile laws in the State’s constituent assembly restricting the rights of ownership of land and rights of employment in the J&K state services to the state subjects i.e. permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir state”. Stating that these laws were then safeguarded through the now abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India, Soz said “at present, the entire matter is before the Supreme Court of India for adjudication and this important and delicate matter should be left for the future elected Government”. He also said “no change should be effected in the domicile laws which protect the rights of permanent residents of J&K state, who are entitled to employment in the J&K Govt. services and ownership of land etc.”