The Tribune...Jammu and Kashmir

J A M M U C& CK A S H M I R

Monday, July 13, 1998

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State subject laws
discriminatory: BJP
JAMMU, July 12 — The BJP has favoured an amendment to the state subject laws which are in force since 1925 on the plea that they were discriminatory against women
Under the state subject law if a women citizen marries a non-state subject she forfeits the right to purchase immovable property, including land and house and in case she owns any house or plot she loses proprietary rights on that property...

Army saves pilgrim
SRINAGAR, July 12 — Timely help by the Army saved the life of a pilgrim on way to the Amarnath cave shrine today...

State subject laws
discriminatory: BJP
Tribune News Service
JAMMU, July 12 — The BJP has favoured an amendment to the state subject laws which are in force since 1925 on the plea that they were discriminatory against women
Under the state subject law if a women citizen marries a non-state subject she forfeits the right to purchase immovable property, including land and house and in case she owns any house or plot she loses proprietary rights on that property.
This demand was made by the All-India BJP Mahila Morcha vice president, Ms Mridhula Sinha, at a news conference here today. She said while the Centre was trying to give several concessions to women in India the state subject law needed to be amended to give women equal rights.

Referring to the proposed legislation regarding reservation of 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and in the state legislatures Ms Sinha demanded that the Jammu and Kashmir Government too amend its Constitution in this regard. She said since the central Act would not be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 either the state government had to seek approval of its extension to the state from the state legislature or amend the Constitution of the state to make a similar provision for women.
When she was reminded that the state government had reserved 33 per cent seats for women in panchayats the president of the state unit of the BJP, Mr D.K. Kotwal, intervened to say that the reservation was for nominated members only.
She admitted that situation in the state was in a flux following increase in militant activities. In reply to a question the BJP leader said the law and order was a state subject and the BJP Government at the Centre had assured assistance to the state administration and it was for the state government to tackle the situation.
Mr Kotwal intervened again to demand that a central team should be sent to the state for assessing the ground realities and accordingly suggest measures for halting subversive violence.
Ms Sinha wanted the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take suitable measures for ensuring the return of migrants to the valley with honour and dignity.
Answering another question she said the support of the National Conference to the BJP, led government at the Centre was the result of its "helplessness and convenience." She also listed several positive measures the BJP government had taken during its first 100 days in office.
She denied a press report that Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee was ill and had to go abroad for one month's treatment.

Army saves pilgrim
SRINAGAR, July 12 (PTI) — Timely help by the Army saved the life of a pilgrim on way to the Amarnath cave shrine today.
The pilgrim, identified as Mohan Lal from Lucknow, suffered a mild heart attack at Sheshnag, 124 km from here, but an army helicopter immediately evacuated him to Srinagar Civil Hospital, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.
He said the pilgrim was given medical aid and declared out of danger.
Meanwhile, the toll in the ongoing pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave has gone up to five, with one more pilgrim dying at Pantarani, an official spokesman said.
Soom Nath Latneger (65) of Pune died at Panchtarni, 137 km from here. The cause of death was "natural", he added.