05/01/23 1

Kashmir and Article 370Kashmir and Article 370

| Adv Kiran Bettadapur || Adv Kiran Bettadapur |

05/01/23 2

Some GeographySome Geography

05/01/23 3

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 4

KingKing

05/01/23 5

King Gulab SinghKing Gulab Singh Punjab: Sikh Punjab: Sikh

EmpireEmpire Maharaja Duleep Maharaja Duleep

Singh Singh J&L: [Chieftain] J&L: [Chieftain]

Gulab SinghGulab Singh 1846: I Anglo-Sikh 1846: I Anglo-Sikh

War... War... Gulab Singh refused Gulab Singh refused

helphelp Sikhs lostSikhs lost Rs.10Mil. Rs.10Mil. Reparation Reparation

(=War indemnity)(=War indemnity)

Treaty of Lahore... Treaty of Lahore... Bankrupt Sikh Bankrupt Sikh

Durbar... Durbar... ceded ceded KashmirKashmir

18901890: USA acquired : USA acquired Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

Treaty of Treaty of Amritsar ...Amritsar ...Kashmir Kashmir SoldSold Princely State of J&KPrincely State of J&K All of All of J, K & LJ, K & L

05/01/23 6

Myth #1Myth #1

Sovereignty...NOT Sovereignty...NOT Property Property Transfer Transfer

Alaska, Louisiana Alaska, Louisiana PurchasesPurchases

1958: Sale of 1958: Sale of Gwadar EnclaveGwadar Enclave By Oman...By Oman...

...To Pakistan...To Pakistan

PeoplePeople Property... Property... Chattel? Chattel? Morality? Morality?

05/01/23 7

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 8

AccessionAccession

05/01/23 9

Accession of J&KAccession of J&K Maharaja Hari Singh:Maharaja Hari Singh:

Heir to throne: Sovereign Heir to throne: Sovereign Head...Limited, InternalHead...Limited, Internal

Suzerainty/Suzerainty/ParamountcyParamountcy British British Crown...till 1947Crown...till 1947

Cabinet Mission Memo Cabinet Mission Memo (12(12thth May 1946): May 1946): Absolute Powers VestedAbsolute Powers Vested Partition Plan: Accession Partition Plan: Accession

with India or Pakistanwith India or Pakistan Ruler’s choiceRuler’s choice

ContiguityContiguity Wishes of PeopleWishes of People

No Independence OptionNo Independence Option

Hari Singh Hari Singh undecidedundecided Standstill Agreement Standstill Agreement Pakistan...Accepted!! Pakistan...Accepted!! India...India...NO response!!NO response!!

Pak Tribal Intrusion Pak Tribal Intrusion Pakistan Pakistan

ViolatedViolated ...Standstill ...Standstill AgreementAgreement

Hari Singh acceded to Hari Singh acceded to IndiaIndia

Instrument of Instrument of Accession (26Accession (26thth Oct. Oct. 1947)1947)

05/01/23 10

Myth #2Myth #2 Mountbatten Mountbatten

AcceptanceAcceptance No No DeceptionDeception / / ForceForce @UN: Accession Not @UN: Accession Not

ChallengedChallenged AcquiescenceAcquiescence

Constituent Constituent Assembly Assembly ratification:ratification: IndiaIndia...Sheikh ...Sheikh

signatorysignatory Jammu & KashmirJammu & Kashmir

J&KJ&K Similar to Similar to 'Texas''Texas'

Instrument:Instrument: Fake, Forged! Fake, Forged! Fraudulent...Fraudulent... Coercion / Coercion /

Undue Undue InfluenceInfluence

Standstill Standstill Agreement Agreement ViolationViolation

05/01/23 11

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 12

Security CouncilSecurity Council

05/01/23 13

Security Council ResolutionSecurity Council Resolution British RoleBritish Role

Geopolitical focusGeopolitical focus Strategic shiftStrategic shift

Arab sentimentArab sentiment Nehru-MountbattenNehru-Mountbatten

Indian ComplaintIndian Complaint Article 35Article 35 Endangerment of Endangerment of

peace and securitypeace and security Withdrawal of Withdrawal of

(support to) (support to) invadersinvaders

UN Charter:UN Charter: Art.1-Para2 (Self-Art.1-Para2 (Self-

determination) determination) No interference in No interference in

internal affairsinternal affairs UNSC Resolution 47UNSC Resolution 47

Immediate CeasefireImmediate Ceasefire De-De-

Militarization...Best Militarization...Best EndeavorEndeavor

Will of the peopleWill of the people

05/01/23 14

Myth #3Myth #3 UNSC#47: Chap. 6...UNSC#47: Chap. 6...Not Not

77 Art.2-Para7 (Art.2-Para7 (Self-Self-

preservationpreservation) ) Will of People Will of People ‡ ‡ PlebiscitePlebiscite

Elections in J&K?Elections in J&K? Territory Reversal?Territory Reversal?

POK, Aksai Chin, ShaksamPOK, Aksai Chin, Shaksam Shimla AgreementShimla Agreement

People’s will? People’s will? A Moral...A Moral...NOT Legal RightNOT Legal Right Fragmentation Fragmentation Arbitrary...Arbitrary...ConvenienceConvenience

Geo-politics: Geo-politics: Might is ____ Might is ____ Israel? Israel? Dictatorships; Dictatorships;

Autocracies?Autocracies?

PLEBISCITEPLEBISCITE Art.1-Para 2 Art.1-Para 2

(Self-(Self-DeterminatioDetermination)n)

UNSC UNSC Resolution Resolution ViolationViolation

05/01/23 15

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 16

Human RightsHuman Rights

05/01/23 17

Human Rights in KashmirHuman Rights in Kashmir Legal Framework:Legal Framework:

Law & Order: Law & Order: State State SubjectSubject

Military: Military: Union Union ExecutiveExecutive

MILITARY: No Rules; MILITARY: No Rules; SOPs; Not for civil SOPs; Not for civil dutyduty

AFSPA, 1958AFSPA, 1958 J&K Notified in J&K Notified in

1990...after 1990...after 32 32 YEARSYEARS

Late 80s Onwards: Late 80s Onwards: Infiltration Infiltration Law & Order Law & Order

BreakdownBreakdown 3-5L Pandits 3-5L Pandits

DislocatedDislocated Masked Gunmen + Masked Gunmen +

24-hr. Deadline24-hr. Deadline Arms & Arms &

Ammunition Ammunition AK47sAK47s; ; Grenades;Grenades; Rocket Rocket Launchers; M/c Launchers; M/c Guns; Guns; Millions ofMillions of BulletsBullets

05/01/23 18

Myth #4Myth #4 AFSPA:AFSPA:

Constitutional? Constitutional? YES YES (5-J SC (5-J SC Bench)...Not unreasonableBench)...Not unreasonable Added PowersAdded Powers: Interrogate : Interrogate

+ Confiscate + Confiscate Persecution? Refugees? Persecution? Refugees?

Exodus? Exodus? AFSPA protects HRAFSPA protects HR

Art.21:Right to life, Art.21:Right to life, liberty (safety, security)liberty (safety, security) Govt. Duty Govt. Duty = TRADEOFFS= TRADEOFFS Sarla Bhatt’s Rights??Sarla Bhatt’s Rights?? Drunken Driving; FriskingDrunken Driving; Frisking

PropagandaPropaganda / Proxy War: / Proxy War: Truth...The 1Truth...The 1stst Casualty! Casualty!

AFSPA...AFSPA... DraconianDraconian Human Rights Human Rights

ViolationsViolations

05/01/23 19

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 20

Mode of RelationshipMode of Relationship

05/01/23 21

Constitutional SchemaConstitutional Schema DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

Representative Democracy Representative Democracy FEDERATION FEDERATION OF STATESOF STATES

Tiered StructureTiered Structure Union-State Division of Union-State Division of

Powers (Art. 246: 7Powers (Art. 246: 7thth Sch.; Sch.; Lists I, II, III)Lists I, II, III)

Residuary PowersResiduary Powers UnionUnion Unitary State... with Unitary State... with

Subsidiary Federal Subsidiary Federal FeaturesFeatures

NOT...NOT...“Dual-Federalism”“Dual-Federalism” NOT...NOT...ConfederationConfederation

J&KJ&K Own Constitution Own Constitution AberrationAberration Art. 370Art. 370 ““Semi-Confederate”?Semi-Confederate”?

UnionUnion

State 2State 2State 1State 1 State nState n........

...... ...... ......

CCONFEDERATIONONFEDERATION

FFEDERATIONEDERATION

UnionUnion

........State 1State 1 State 2State 2 State nState n

...... ............

UnionUnion

........State 1State 1 State 2State 2 State nState n

...... ............

J & KJ & K

......

BarringFew Areas

INDIA

05/01/23 22

Mode = Article 370Mode = Article 370 1947-48 Backdrop: 1947-48 Backdrop:

Ongoing HostilitiesOngoing Hostilities Instrument of Instrument of

AccessionAccession Basis for Union-State Basis for Union-State

Power SharingPower Sharing Ratification Ratification by J&K by J&K

Const. AssemblyConst. Assembly UN Resolution... UN Resolution...

Will of People... Will of People... CommitmentCommitment

Art. 306A/370 Art. 306A/370 Introduced: Introduced: J&K isJ&K is part of Bharatpart of Bharat Some Autonomy to Some Autonomy to

J&KJ&K Consultation, Consultation, ConcurrenceConcurrence of of State Govt. for law-State Govt. for law-makingmaking

Residuary PowersResiduary Powers with J&K Statewith J&K State

05/01/23 23

Myth #5Myth #5 ''Interim ArrangementInterim Arrangement': ':

due to...due to...Special Special Conditions'Conditions' Interim = Valid for some Interim = Valid for some

timetime NOT 'Special' provision NOT 'Special' provision

foreverforever Temporary & Temporary &

Transitional... (MC Transitional... (MC Chagla Speech)Chagla Speech)

True Link / Foundation True Link / Foundation = = Instrument of Instrument of AccessionAccession

Part of Basic Part of Basic Structure? ...Structure? ...NONO Then... Then... ABROGABLEABROGABLE! !

Art. 370: Art. 370: India J&K LinkIndia J&K LinkRemoval...J&K Removal...J&K

Free!Free!

05/01/23 24

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 25

IntegrationIntegration

05/01/23 26

Integration with IndiaIntegration with India Delhi Agreement... Delhi Agreement...

Amending Lists I, II or Amending Lists I, II or III III Other States Other States

Legislatures RatifyLegislatures Ratify J&KJ&K Presidential Presidential

OrderOrder... with ... with Governor’s ConsentGovernor’s Consent

Who & How Who & How Authorised?Authorised?

Sovereign Socialist Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Secular Democratic RepublicRepublic

2 Constitutions:2 Constitutions: 1) R-o-I 2) J&K1) R-o-I 2) J&K 160 / 448 Arts. 160 / 448 Arts.

Article 35AArticle 35A: : Executive LegislatesExecutive Legislates for J&K...for J&K... Presidential Orders Presidential Orders

(CO)(CO) ModificationsModifications

Presidential Presidential NotificationsNotifications

05/01/23 27

Myth #6Myth #6 Secularism does NOT Secularism does NOT

applyapply Democratic InstitutionsDemocratic Institutions

No Panchayats (Self-Rule)No Panchayats (Self-Rule) No Original SC JurisdictionNo Original SC Jurisdiction Cruel Punishment: Cruel Punishment:

Flogging (Ranbir Penal Flogging (Ranbir Penal Code)Code)

Socialism...for equalitySocialism...for equality Women’s Rights: Girl-band Women’s Rights: Girl-band

ban... ban... Inheritance?Inheritance?

No RTE; Watered-down RTINo RTE; Watered-down RTI No OBC reservation No OBC reservation

Separation of Powers? Separation of Powers?

J&K Enjoys....J&K Enjoys....Special Special StatusStatus

05/01/23 28

The ProblemThe Problem

K A S H M I R

05/01/23 29

Rights of SovereigntyRights of Sovereignty

05/01/23 30

Rights of SovereigntyRights of Sovereignty Sovereignty:Sovereignty:

Republic = Rests in Republic = Rests in peoplepeople

Representative Representative Form of DemocracyForm of Democracy

Constitutional Constitutional SupremacySupremacy Absolute Law Making Absolute Law Making

Powers... Powers... ...Within Own Territory...Within Own Territory GIVES RightsGIVES Rights TAKES (away) TAKES (away)

Rights... Except Rights... Except FundamentalFundamental

J&K: J&K: INTEGRAL part of INTEGRAL part of IndiaIndia

05/01/23 31

Myth #7Myth #7

ARTICLE 370 ARTICLE 370 CANNOTCANNOT

BE BE ABROGATEDABROGATED

Constituent Assembly Constituent Assembly Aim: Framing of Aim: Framing of ConstitutionConstitution Constitution = Supreme Constitution = Supreme

Law Law Constituent Power v. Constituent Power v.

Legislative PowerLegislative Power Post FramingPost Framing Law- Law-

making Power passes to making Power passes to LegislatureLegislature

Art.370:Art.370: NOT Basic StructureNOT Basic Structure

Kesavananda Bharati, Raj Kesavananda Bharati, Raj Narain, etc.Narain, etc.

So...So...Article 368 appliesArticle 368 applies CAN BE.... Amended or CAN BE.... Amended or

AbrogatedAbrogated

05/01/23 32

SummarySummary

J&K Story...J&K Story...70 years: 7 LIES70 years: 7 LIES True Victims...True Victims...People of J&KPeople of J&K Everything else:Everything else:

LIES... DAMNED LIES... LIES... DAMNED LIES... By: By:

HOSTILE NATIONS & VESTED HOSTILE NATIONS & VESTED INTERESTS??INTERESTS??

05/01/23 33

JAI HINDJAI KARNATAKA!