Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 7: Barely a day after New Delhi-based national media reported that intelligence agencies have warned that there could be a possible "revolt" in the police ranks and massive unrest in Jammu and Kashmir if the Supreme Court passes an "adverse" order on Article 35A of the Constitution, there was massive reshuffle in the JKP.
Around two dozen police officers, mainly of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police were transferred as a part of the reshuffle.
District heads of police have been largely transferred on August 6, a few hours after the hearing on the Article 35 A was deferred by the Supreme Court to August 27.
On August 5, a leading news channel broke the story claiming that there was a possibility of revolt in the police department.
"The Jammu and Kashmir police are on the forefront in the fight against terrorists, pro-separatists protests and stone-throwing in the valley. More than 1,600 police personnel have been killed fighting terrorists since 1990. But on the issue, top officers are worried about the fallout in case the Supreme Court decides to strike down Article 35A," the channel had reported.
"Intelligence agencies have written to the state government, warning a revolt in the police ranks if Article 35A is tinkered with, sources said. State government employees, trade unions, business associations, civil society groups and lawyers have threatened to go on protest if the special constitutional position of the state was compromised. For the last one week, there have been series of protests as clamour is growing to retain Article 35A," the report added.
A top police official had told the channel that local police had a view about the emotive issue.
"Police officers have a view. I am a resident of Jammu and Kashmir and I am also police officer; I have my own views. But what's my duty, I will always do first," the official had reportedly said.
But the police subsequently refuted reports of any possible revolt in the department.
The Supreme Court on Monday said that a three-judge bench would decide whether the pleas challenging Article 35A, which provides special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir, should be referred to a five-judge Constitution bench for examining the larger issue of alleged violation of the doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A Khanwilkar adjourned the crucial hearing on as many as five petitions "to the week commencing from August 27" on the grounds that they pertained to the challenge to a Constitutional scheme and could not be heard as the third judge, Justice D Y Chandrachud, was not present on the day. |
