Protest For Statehood In Ladakh: The Central Government can implement the provisions of Article 371 of the Constitution in Ladakh. After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was transformed into two union territories, one being Jammu and Kashmir and the other being Ladakh. There is no assembly in Ladakh.
Local people are demanding that Ladakh be given statehood and tribal status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, like the North-Eastern states. Apart from this, demands are also being made for job reservation for local people and parliamentary seats for Leh and Kargil districts. People are protesting for this.
According to the Indian Express report, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently held a meeting with representatives of Ladakh, in which he offered to increase security like Article 371 in the region.
What is Article 371?
Article 371 and its clauses provide special provisions to specific states, often to give representation to certain religious and social groups and to allow these groups to exercise autonomy over their affairs without interference from state and central governments.
What will change if Article 371 is implemented in Ladakh?
Home Minister Shah is believed to have told the Leh Apex Body (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) that their concerns related to jobs, land, and culture will be taken care of, but the government will include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Will not include. Special provisions under Article 371 will allow providing protection to the local population of Ladakh.
In which states Article 371 is already in force?
When the Constitution came into force, Article 371 required the creation of Development Boards to assess the overall development and need for government expenditure in certain areas in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Article 371 gave special provisions to Maharashtra and Gujarat. The clause related to other states under Article 371 was later included through amendments.
Special provision for Nagaland under Article 371-A
Provisions related to Nagaland are included under Article 371-A. Parliament cannot make laws which affect the social, religious or customary legal practices of the Nagas or the transfer and ownership of land without the consent of the State Assembly. Similar protection has been provided to the Mizo people of Mizoram under Article 371-G.
Articles 371-B and C allow the creation of special committees in the Legislative Assemblies of Assam and Manipur. These committees include MLAs elected from tribal areas and hilly areas respectively.
Special provisions have also been introduced in the Sikkim Assembly to provide reservation under Article 371-F to protect the rights and interests of various sections of the population.
Earlier, the provisions came into force immediately after the coming into existence of the states.
Let us inform that special provisions under Article 371 for Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh (371-H) and Goa (371-I) were introduced soon after each of these states officially came into existence. Were. If special provisions are introduced for Ladakh, it will be the first time that they will be introduced for a Union Territory rather than a State.
Home Minister reportedly Amit Shah assured the Ladakh delegation that the government will ensure representation and participation of local people through hill councils and is ready to provide up to 80 percent reservation in public employment.