New Delhi, August 5: The Article 370 and Article 35A of the Indian Constitution have been a bone of contention between politicians of Jammu and Kashmir and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which rules at the Centre. On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution to revoke Article 370, announcing that Jammu and Kashmir will no longer be a state. President Ram Nath Kovind also passed an order abolishing Article 35A.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution empowered the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define "permanent residents" of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents. This was added to the Indian Constitution through the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, which was issued by then President Rajendra Prasad under Article 370, on the advice of the Jawaharlal Nehru-led government. Jammu and Kashmir Order 2019: Read Full Text of Modi Government's Notification on Article 370 And Article 35A.

Article 35A gives Jammu and Kashmir state government special rights and privileges regarding employment with the state government, acquisition of property in the state and settling in the state. Jammu and Kashmir no Longer a State.

Article 370, drafted by Sheikh Abdullah, confers an autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. It says Parliament needs the Jammu and Kashmir state government's approval for applying laws in the state — except defence, foreign affairs, finance, and communications. Under Article 370, the Centre has no power to declare a financial emergency in the state. Article 370 also bars citizens from other states from buying property in Jammu and Kashmir.

Here it may be noted that Article 370(1)(c) explicitly mentions that Article 1 of the Indian Constitution applies to Kashmir through Article 370. Article 1 lists the states of the Union. This means, according to those who are against the abolishment of the provision, that it is Article 370 that binds the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the Indian Union. Removing Article 370 would, therefore, make the state independent of India, they say.

Now that Article 370 and Article 35A have been revoked, all central laws will be applied to Jammu and Kashmir. Citizens of other states won't require prior approval from Jammu and Kashmir legislature to buy a property in the state. Job in the state government will now be available for citizens of other states as well.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 05, 2019 01:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).