(STATE TIMES NEWS) Predicament of Art 35-A discussed
JKSC   07-Dec-2015

JAMMU: Department of Sociology, University of Jammu in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir Study Centre today organised a seminar on “Predicaments of Article 35-A in Jammu and Kashmir” with special reference to Legal and Constitutional Status of Article 35-A in J and K.

Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. R.D Sharma in his address said that such seminars provide platform for the budding researchers and scholars to explore in detail the issues of national importance and more importantly issues related to humanity.

“Such kind of issues need to be discussed in detail on the bigger platform  so that the students, scholars and researchers get an opportunity to interact with the experts from the concerned field and get enlightened with their knowledge”, added Prof. Sharma.

Prof. Sharma expressed his satisfaction and pride that the Scholars and students of the University are well and are capable enough of fielding such basic questions that will be putting great responsibility on the leaders of the State.

There were two sessions in the seminar. The theme of the first session was ‘Constitutional and Legal Understanding of the Article 35-A in Jammu and Kashmir’.

Social activist, senior columnist and Expert on J and K affairs, Daya Sagar remained the main speaker in this session. He made aware audience about the technical and legal understanding of Article 35-A. He also explained that how and when Article 35-A was added in the Constitution of J and K.

Earlier, Prof. Abha Chauhan, Head, Department of Sociology, University of Jammu presented welcome address and introduced the theme of the seminar.

The session was followed by interacting discussion. Ajay Kumar, Department of Sociology, Ramnagar Campus University of Jammu, presented the vote of thanks.

The second session was based on ‘Implications of Article-35A in Jammu and Kashmir’. Prof. Abha Chauhan chaired the session. In her presentation Dr. Seema Nargotra, Senior Assistant  Prof. Department of Law, University of Jammu highlighted the plight of West Pakistan Refugees living in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, due to lacuna in legal and Constitutional provisions.

She argued that the need of the hour is that the legislatures must realize the pain and sorrows they suffered since 1947. The legislatures must unite for granting permanent Residence to these Refugees struggling hard for their citizenship for the last seven decades.

The other speaker of the session, Prof. Renu Nanda, Department of Education, University of Jammu talked about the daughters of the state who are not given equal treatment at par with men. She argued that because of Permanent Residence Certificate, daughters of the state feel insecure. She questioned: How women married outside the state are cut off from the state legally, emotionally and socially. She said that in the present society on one side we are talking of equality, human rights, human security, on the other hand women are exploited and discriminated with the introduction of articles like Article 35-A.

Deepti Manchanda, Ph. D. Scholar Department of Sociology, University of Jammu threw light on the various issues and set of demands of West Pakistan Refugees, 1947. Labha Ram Gandhi, President of West Pakistan Refugee Front, 1947 and Sh. Uday Chand, Spokesperson of Jammu Pradesh United Front, presented their views regarding the plight of the West Pakistan Refugees, the problems they face and the implications of 35-A on them.

Prof. Abha Chauhan  highlighted that it is the responsibility of the intellectuals and civil society to create awareness among the people regarding issues like 35-A and many others which are detrimental to the development of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Shreeya Bakshi, Research Scholar of the Department of Sociology conducted the programme and also presented vote of thanks. The Teachers, students and scholars of different departments of University of Jammu and members of civil society participated in the seminar.

Among others present include Dr. Gautam Mengi, Convener, Jammu Kashmir Study Center, Uday Chand, Prof. Pankaj K. Srivastav, DSW, Prof. Depankarsen Gupta, Head, Department of Economics, faculty members from various teaching departments, scholars and students.