When the Narendra Modi led BJP government read down the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, technically scrapped Article 370 and 35-A, this was seen as biggest event ever in the history of troubled Center-State relations. Go two generations back and you will get to know March 30, 1965 was a far bigger event but that didn’t evoke as much interest and concern as August 5, 2019 did.
On that day, the Center carried out an unprecedented amendment in the Constitution using Article 370 to change the nomenclature of Prime Minister or Wazir-e-Azam to Chief Minister and Sadar-e-Reyasat to Governor. This was not just about nomenclature but also how the latter was to be appointed. This was the most significant lowering down of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
In this episode, I explain the legal position and how this process was carried out seamlessly. It was on this occasion that the palace of the Maharaja formally turned into Raj Bhawan and Sadar-e-Reyasat the Governor.
