Kashmir lawyers’ body has asked its team to remain present in the Supreme Court to defend Article 35A and other constitutional provisions.
Following a meeting of its executive committee meeting chaired by its president MA Qayoom, the Bar Association Kashmir on Monday asked its members, who have been picked for opposing the petitions against Article 35A, to remain present in the Supreme Court on February 13 and 14. The team comprises Bar president MA Qayoom, vice-president Aijaz Bedar, secretary Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, joint secretary Adil Asimi, treasurer Bilal Ahmad Wani, senior advocates ZA Shah, ZA Qureshi and Riyaz Jan besides advocates Altaf Haqani, Mufti Mehraj-ud-din, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, N A Ronga, MS Reshi, and Arshad Andrabi.
“The team members will meet in Delhi on 12 February positively to devise a strategy for defending Article 35A seriously and effectively. Any other member of the Bar Association who may be willing to join the team in Delhi is also welcome,” the Bar said in its statement. The Bar has contended that Articles 370, 35A and the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, which protect state’s special position, have been questioned “to get rid of these provisions to bring the state at par with other states of India notwithstanding the limited nature of the state’s accession, United Nations resolutions, the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and international declarations”.