New Delhi: While abolishing Jammu and Kashmir’s Constitution, the Government of India has retained provisions related to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reserving 24 seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of J&K for PoK. The J&K Constitution, enacted in 1956, had earmarked 24 seats in legislative assembly that were left vacant and not contested during state elections.
The bill declaring J&K a Union Territory in its clause 14 sub-section 4 (a) states: “Until the area of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the occupation of Pakistan ceases to be so occupied and the people residing in that area elect their representatives, 24 seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall remain vacant and shall not be taken into account for reckoning the total membership of the assembly.
Interestingly, the Lok Sabha does not provide for a Parliament seat in PoK despite India declaring J&K, including PoK, an integral part. On Tuesday, home minister Amit Shah asserted in the House: “When I say Jammu & Kashmir, I include Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin, both are included in the territorial boundaries of Jammu & Kashmir.”
