No proposal to delete Article 370: Government

NEW DELHI: There is no proposal under consideration of the government "to delete" Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"No, sir. There is currently no such proposal under consideration," Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in reply to a written question on whether government intends to delete Article 370.

Chaudhary said Article 370 was made in the Indian Constitution for continuance of the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India on the basis of Instrument of Accession.

"Thus, Article 370 is a device to continue the existing relationship of state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India.

"Through this Article, the Union Parliament gets jurisdiction to enact laws on matters specified either in the Instrument of Accession or by later addition with concurrence of the government of state of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.