The physical boundaries of modern India have gone through a lot of struggle, conflict and political manipulation over the past 70 years. Jammu and Kashmir since independence has been an interesting topic for discussion on the creation of the present India and Pakistan. Article 370 being one of the major leverages. To understand the constitutional dimension of Jammu and Kashmir, the Thursday Activity in the college was dedicated to a session on the Constitutional validity of Article 370 taken by Prof. Dr. Devender Seth, Professor of law at the Punjab University. Dr. Devender started off his lecture by covering each and every detail of Article 370 and the “ghost” Article 35(A). He mentioned how Article 35(A) is not listed in the articles of the Indian Constitution but is regarded as its part. To explain the constitutional basis of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir Dr. Devender explained the Independence Act. He made the audience understand that the present provisions exclusively for Jammu and Kashmir present in the Constitution were deemed to be unnecessary by the then leaders of the Princely state. He highlighted the roles of leaders like Raja Hari Singh, Jawharlal Nehru, Shree Iyengar and Sheikh Abdullah in providing Jammu and Kashmir its special status and also told the audience that the state of Jammu and Kashmir is much better managed and organized that Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He ended on the note the Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and is inseparable in spite of the present challenges.
This write-up was prepared by Aadya Jha (1st Year)
