‘Centre Not Planning To Introduce Article 371 In J&K And Ladakh

The Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) has junked the media reports claiming that the Government of India was planning to implement Article 371 in the new Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. The MHA has called the media reports claiming that the Government was holding consultations over the proposal for special status as baseless, putting an end to the speculations over the nature of special status that was being widely talked about.

The MHA has also denied the claim made by media reports that the Government of India was in talks with J&K’s law department regarding the implementation of any such proposal. Article 371 of the Constitution aims to safeguard the rights of the local people in employment and education and is applicable in a total of 10 States, including Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Maharashtra, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Karnataka.