J&K govt seeks adjournment of Article 35-A hearing in SC

Srinagar, Feb 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sought adjournment of the hearing in a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of article 35-A before the Supreme Court.

The standing counsel for the state of Jammu and Kashmir Shoeb Alam urged the SC to adjourn the hearing in this matter till the state gets an elected government. It is to be noted that Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President's rule.

"The present matter involves a sensitive issue regarding a challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution of India. A short reply has been filed by the State of Jammu and Kashmir in the lead matter (We The Citizens) and notices have not been issued in the other petitions. It will therefore be requested that the matter may kindly be heard when an elected government is in place," the letter read.

"The letter may kindly be circulated to the Hon'ble judges so as to avoid inconvenience to them, "it said.

Article 35-A was incorporated in the Constitution in 1954 by President Rajendra Prasad on the advice of the then Cabinet headed by Jawaharlal Nehru. It accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in the state.