The J&K administration on Monday sought a clarification from the Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHCBA) “if it considers J&K an integral part of Indian or a disputed territory”, as it was preparing to hold the Bar elections, which were deferred earlier, from November 10.
“We have received a communication from the administration in which the Bar opinion is sought on the viewpoint held by it on whether J&K is a disputed or integral part of India. The communication comes just a day ahead of the Bar polls in Kashmir,” Mudasir Gulzar Vakil, secretary of the Election Commission, J&K High Court Bar Association, told The Hindu.
According to the Association’s constitution, the objective of the body “is to find ways and means, take steps for resolving the issues concerning the public at large, including the larger issue of peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute”. In the past, the Bar had been advocating a trilateral dialogue between India, Pakistan and people of J&K.
The District Magistrate, Srinagar, has sought an explanation from the Bar on its constitution, saying “its (the stand) not in consonance with the Constitution of India, whereby J&K is an integral part of the country and not a dispute”.
The magistrate also also sought details of the certificate issued by the competent authority where the J&K High Court Bar Association has been registered as an association and its validity.
“This issue will be discussed at length and a response will be submitted to the administration. We fear this may be a tactic not to allow the Bar polls,” Mr. Vakil said.
The KHCBA, a body of over 1,200 lawyers, deferred its polls on October 5 this year after the administration's apprehensions over the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were planning to hold the polls from November 10 in a phased manner, where just 30 to 50 lawyers would have voted in a staggered fashion and as per the COVID-19 protocols,” Mr. Vakil said.
