J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Autonomy panel report accepted
JAMMU, Jan 19 — The state Cabinet today accepted all recommendations of the State Autonomy Committee and decided that the issue of restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir be discussed by a team of state ministers with the Centre.

Bodies of NC leader, two others found
SRINAGAR, Jan 19 — Six persons, including a ruling National Conference (NC) leader and two militants, were killed and five others, three of them Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, wounded in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

Srinagar rocked
SRINAGAR, Jan 19 — A mild tremor shook Srinagar and its adjoining areas this afternoon, official sources said.

Autonomy panel report accepted
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 19 — The state Cabinet today accepted all recommendations of the State Autonomy Committee and decided that the issue of restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir be discussed by a team of state ministers with the Centre.

At its over two-hour long meeting here, the Cabinet discussed the recommendations of the committee report and the Cabinet unanimously accepted all recommendations on the plea that it would get back for the state what it had lost since 1953, when the duly elected government headed by Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who presided over the meeting, informed his ministerial colleagues that the National Conference (NC) was committed to restore greater autonomy to the state. He said the National Conference had initiated measures in this direction in 1977 when a Cabinet sub-committee had been set up to recommend means for restoring the pre-1953 constitutional status.

The autonomy committee has recommended repeal of several central laws which were extended to the state in violation of the Constitution order of 1950 and the Delhi Agreement of 1952. It has recommended that the changes made in the state Constitution vide first and sixth amendments in 1959 and 1965, respectively, be repealed and the original provisions of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir as adopted by the state constituent assembly on November 17, 1956, be restored.

The committee's recommendations, related to the orders issued under clause (I) of Article 370 of the Constitution of India by the President be rescinded.

It has also recommended that the word "temporary" be deleted from the title of part XXI of the Constitution of India and the word "temporary" occurring in the heading of Article 370, which gives to Jammu and Kashmir special status in the Indian union, be substituted by the word "special." This indicates that the state Cabinet is opposed to any attempt at tampering with Article 370 when it was a temporary measure. It has also recommended repeal of Article 246 in its application to the state subsequent to the 1950 constitutional order alongwith Articles 248, 249, 250 and 251.

Once again the committee's recommendations that the Union should have powers to handle and make constitutional amendment only in case of defence, external affairs, communications and some ancillary matters was accepted by the Cabinet. The Cabinet felt that application of seven hundred central laws had resulted in erosion in the state's autonomy as guaranteed under the Instrument of Accession of 1947, constitution order of 1950 and the Delhi Agreement of 1952.

One such law, the committee has felt, has restricted the power of the state legislature to amend its own Constitution. "This uncalled for clog on the powers of the state legislature needs to be removed lock, stock and barrel, "the Committee has recommended.

The Cabinet entrusted the task of setting the ball in motion to the Law Department so that the state team could initiate discussion with a committee of central ministers. Once an agreement was reached the matter could be tabled before the Parliament for its approval.

What has evinced keen interest in the local political circles is the timing of the state Cabinet meeting to discuss the state autonomy committee report when there were other urgent problems confronting the state government. Observers here said either the Chief Minister had sounded Delhi about his plan or he had decided to enter into a new phase of confrontation with the Centre with his demand for securing greater autonomy for the state which could silence the separatists operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bodies of NC leader, two others found

SRINAGAR, Jan 19 (PTI) — Six persons, including a ruling National Conference (NC) leader and two militants, were killed and five others, three of them Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, wounded in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

Bullet-riddled body of a block president of the NC identified as Abdul Karim Bhat was found by the police from Nariwanan village in the Beerwah area of the Badgam district in central Kashmir today, an official spokesman said.

He said Bhat had been kidnapped by militants from his house late last night and was later shot dead.

The police also found the body of one person from Suchan village in the Diyalgam area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir today, the spokesman said.

Two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district today, while a civilian caught in a cross-fire between militants and security forces at Poshkeri village in Anantnag lost his life, official sources said.

The sources said the police found yet on unidentified body at Krehama in Kupwara district of North Kashmir today.

Srinagar rocked

SRINAGAR, Jan 19 (PTI) — A mild tremor shook Srinagar and its adjoining areas this afternoon, official sources said.

The tremor, which was felt around 12.40 p.m. lasted several seconds.

No loss of life or damage to property has been reported from any part of the city, the sources said here.

The epicentre of the tremor and its intensity was not immediately available.