New Delhi: Defending the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, the Centre on Monday advised the Supreme Court that the whole area of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an ”unprecedented” period of peace, progress and prosperity, with road violence, orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks, changing into “a thing of the past.” Referring to the “characteristic security situation” within the area, the Centre mentioned organized stone pelting incidents related with terrorism-separatist agenda, which had been as excessive as 1,767 in 2018 has come all the way down to zero in 2023 until date and casualty of safety personnel has proven a 65.9 per cent decline in 2022 as in comparison with 2018.
The Centre’s affidavit might be taken up on Tuesday by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, which is scheduled to listen to a batch of petitions difficult the choice to abrogate Article 370 that had given particular standing to Jammu and Kashmir. On August 5, 2019, the Centre determined to strip the erstwhile state of J&Ok of particular standing and bifurcate it into two Union Territories.
Several petitions difficult the Centre’s resolution to abrogate the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which cut up J-Ok into two Union Territories–Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh–were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019.
The Centre contended that the “historic constitutional step” being challenged has introduced unprecedented growth, progress, safety and stability to the area, which was usually lacking throughout the previous Article 370 regime.
It is submitted that the identical has been doable as a result of coverage of the Union of India of making certain peace, prosperity and progress within the area, the affidavit mentioned. ”It is submitted that the internet hosting of the G-20 Tourism Working Group assembly at Srinagar within the month of May 2023, was a watershed occasion within the historical past of valley tourism and the nation proudly displayed its resolute dedication to the world that secessionist terrorist area could be transformed right into a area the place even worldwide dignitaries could be invited and international occasions could be held.”
The Centre mentioned after the historic adjustments, the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed profound “ameliorative, affirmative and progressive adjustments in final 4 years encompassing its whole governance – together with the developmental actions, public administration and safety issues which has positively impacted each resident regardless of caste, creed or faith.”
It mentioned bandhs and stone-pelting (collectively), engineered, financed and compelled by the separatist-terrorist networks, had large destructive ripple results on the financial system and the society as an entire.
”It is submitted that the defining attribute of the safety state of affairs within the area, which has a direct bearing on the day-to-day lifetime of widespread residents is ‘road violence’ which was a methodical and common phenomenon. The road violence, engineered and orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks has now develop into a factor of the previous.
The organized stone pelting incidents related with terrorism-separatist agenda, which had been as excessive as 1,767 within the yr 2018 have come all the way down to zero within the yr 2023 so far, the Centre mentioned in its 20-page affidavit.
It added that ‘bandhs’ and stone pelting had resulted within the closure of faculties, faculties and universities, commerce, industries and companies regularly intermittently, resulting in a extreme lack of earnings particularly for the poor and those that labored in unorganized sectors.
”In the yr 2018, there have been 52 incidents of organized ‘Bandh/Hartal’, which have come all the way down to zero within the yr 2023 until date. In addition, resolute anti-terror actions have resulted within the dismantling of the fear eco-system which is mirrored in a big drop in terrorist recruitment from 199 within the yr 2018 to 12 within the yr 2023 until date.”
The Centre mentioned work on transit lodging for Kashmiri Pandits for his or her secure return to the valley is within the superior stage and is predicted to be majorly accomplished within the subsequent yr.
Highlighting quite a few schemes launched by the Centre for the event of the whole area, the federal government mentioned life has returned to normalcy within the area after over three many years of turmoil.
”It is submitted that faculties, faculties, universities, hospitals and different public establishments are functioning effectively with none strikes or any type of disturbances over the last three years. The earlier observe of every day hartals, strikes, stone pelting and bandhs are issues of the previous now,” it added.
Emphasising that sure sections of the society, together with displaced individuals from Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and kids of girls married outdoors J&Ok, had been earlier disadvantaged of their fundamental rights previous to the August 5, 2019 resolution, the federal government mentioned all of the residents of the area are having fun with all rights which can be found to residents in different components of the nation.
It mentioned with the constitutional adjustments and enactments of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, seats have been reserved for the individuals belonging to Scheduled Tribe, which has resulted within the grant of reservation in Legislature to them just like the reservation out there to such neighborhood in Legislative Assemblies of different States/Union territories within the nation.
”It is submitted that with the improved safety situation, the Union territory has additionally witnessed the best ever footfall of vacationers viz. 1.88 crore vacationers visited Jammu & Kashmir solely from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 which is considerably contributing to the expansion of the financial system and has a direct impression on the earnings of widespread man,” the Centre highlighted.
