Srinagar, Politicians in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are challenging the legal validity of recent amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act passed by the Indian parliament, arguing that these changes contradict established democratic and judicial norms.

According to Kashmir Media Service, these concerns were voiced following the Lok Sabha’s passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah, speaking to reporters in Pulwama, highlighted that the Indian government’s decision to amend the Act is contentious, especially since the law is currently pending adjudication before the Indian Supreme Court.

Abdullah expressed two primary objections. The first pertains to the Supreme Court’s pending decision on the reorganisation, with the government making continuous amendments. The second issue he raised concerns the method of filling assembly seats through nomination, a process he and his party find objectionable.

Further critique came from Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami. He remarked that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment Bill) was passed while the original Reorganisation Act is under judicial review. Tarigami criticized the current Indian government’s approach, labeling it as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

This development adds another layer to the complex political and legal landscape in IIOJK. The debate over the legality of these bills underscores ongoing tensions and unresolved issues in the region, particularly regarding its governance and representation within the broader framework of the Indian state.