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Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir

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Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly
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Leadership
Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir

Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was a body of representatives elected in 1951 to formulate the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.[1] The Constituent Assembly was dissolved on 26 January 1957, based on Mir Qasim resolution it adopted and ratified on 17 November 1956.[2]

Background

In 1947, British rule in India ended with the creation of two new nations—India and Pakistan—and the abandonment of British suzerainty over the 562 Indian princely states. According to the Indian Independence Act 1947, "the suzerainty of His Majesty over the Indian States lapses, and with it, all treaties and agreements in force at the date of the passing of this Act between His Majesty and the rulers of Indian States",[3] so the states were left to choose whether to join India or Pakistan or to remain independent. Jammu and Kashmir had a predominantly Muslim population but a Hindu ruler, and was the largest of the princely states.[clarification needed] Its ruler was the Dogra King Hari Singh.

In October 1947, Pashtun tribals at the behest of the Pakistani government, invaded Kashmir.[4] Unable to withstand the invasion, the Maharaja signed The Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947 and that was accepted by the Government of India on 27 October 1947.[5] India subsequently sent its forces into Kashmir leading to Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. In January 1948 India moved the U.N. which led to United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 of 21 April 1948. This resolution required among other things that Pakistan withdraw from the areas of Jammu and Kashmir which it had occupied in 1947 immediately and conditions be created for a free and impartial plebiscite to decide the future of the state.[6][7]

Elections

Main article: 1951 Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly election

When the required withdrawal did not occur for several years Jammu & Kashmir National Conference which was the largest political party in the state recommended convening the constituent assembly in a resolution passed on 27 October 1950.[8] On 1 May 1951 Karan Singh then Head of state of Jammu and Kashmir issued a proclamation directing the formation of this assembly. The assembly was to be constituted of elected representatives of the people of the state. For purposes of this election the state was divided into constituencies containing population of 40,000 or as near thereto as possible and each electing one member.[9] The United Nations Security Council stated in its resolution 91 dated 30 March 1951 that it would not consider these elections to be a substitute for a free and impartial plebiscite to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.[8]

However, the 1951 elections were said to be totally rigged.[10][11] Polls were conducted in Indian administered Kashmir in August–September 1951. There were no women registered as voters in 1951 Jammu and Kashmir elections. But there was one woman who contested who lost her deposit.[12] Jammu & Kashmir National Conference won all the 75 seats under the leadership of Sheikh Abdullah.[13][14] On 31 October 1951 he addressed the assembly for the first time and called on it to frame the states constitution and to give a 'reasoned conclusion regarding accession'.[15]

Actions

On 15 February 1954 the assembly members who were present cast a unanimous vote ratifying the state's accession to India. The constituent assembly was later dissolved. [16][17] Constitution was drafted which came into force on 26 January 1957. Part II, section (3) of the constitution states 'The State of Jammu and Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India'. In 1956 the Constituent Assembly finalised its constitution, which declared the whole of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir to be 'an integral part of the Union of India'. Elections were held the next year for a Legislative Assembly.

Dissolution

The Constituent Assembly adopted and ratified Mir Qasim resolution to dissolve itself on 17 November 1956. According to this resolution, the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir ceased to exist on 26 January 1957.[2]

References

  1. ^ The Fact of the State's Constitution, Rediff.com, 1999-06-04
  2. ^ a b A.G. Noorani (2014). Article 370: A Constitutional History of Jammu and Kashmir. Oxford University Press. pp. 9–11, Chapter 7 Doc #16. ISBN 978-0-19-908855-3.
  3. ^ Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database: Indian Independence Act 1947 (c.30) at opsi.gov.uk
  4. ^ Death in the Vale, TIME, 1947-11-10
  5. ^ In 1956 the Constituent Assembly finalised its constitution, which declared the whole of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir to be 'an integral part of the Union of India'. Elections were held the next year for a Legislative Assembly. Detailed constitutional changes were made in later years, which further normalised the state’s relationship with India. Kashmir:Research Paper 04/28 by Paul Bowers Archived 26 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, House of Commons Library, United Kingdom, 2004-03-30
  6. ^ A Brief History of Kashmir Conflict, The Daily Telegraph, 2004-11-10
  7. ^ UN Security Council, Resolution 47 (1948) of 21 April 1948, 21 April 1948. S/RES/47 (1948), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  8. ^ a b United Nations Security Council Resolution 91 (1951)of 30 March 1951, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  9. ^ Text of the Proclamation issued by the Head of the Jammu and Kashmir State on 1 May 1951
  10. ^ Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace; by Sumatra Bose. Harvard University Press. 2009. pp. 55–57. ISBN 9780674028555.
  11. ^ Ved Bhasin. "Riots changed J&K politics". Kashmir Life.
  12. ^ "Kudos to Mehbooba Mufti, but where are Kashmir's female politicians?".
  13. ^ "J & K : A Historical Perspective Main Events (1947-1997)". Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  14. ^ "Constitution of J&K Assembly". Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  15. ^ Speech Of the Hon'ble Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in the Constituent Assembly.
  16. ^ Forgotten day in Kashmir's history, Rediff.com, 2005-03-08
  17. ^ In 1952 the elected and overwhelmingly Muslim Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, led by the popular Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, voted in favour of confirming accession to India. Thereafter, India regarded this vote as an adequate expression of popular will and demurred on holding a plebiscite. GlobalSecurity.org
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