KEY RECOMMENDATIONS of interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir r report

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

NEW COMPACT
The Interlocutors Report on Jammu and Kashmir has proposed a “New Compact with the people of J&K”. It has three components:
POLITICAL: Greater devolution of administrative and financial powers to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
ECONOMIC: Make the state self-reliant. The report calls for “fair compensation” to the state for power generation and for the waters originating in the state and flowing to other parts of the country. It wants certain hydro power projects to be handed back to the state. SEZs to promote handicraft, horticulture, floriculture, tourism, etc.
CULTURAL: Initiate confidence-building measures, such as inter and intra-Kashmir dialogue between community representatives of all regions. Establish exchange programmes of students, writers, artistes and crafts people. Promote cross-LoC tourism too.

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

The report, underlining the state’s dual character, says it is an integral part of the Indian Union, yet it has a special status enshrined in Article 370 of the Constitution, and the Centre-state relations must be settled accordingly:
n Review all Central Acts and Articles of the Constitution extended to the state after the 1952 Delhi Agreement. For this, set up a Constitutional Committee to take into account the changes over the past six decades — strategic, political, economic, technological, ecological and cultural — in India, South Asia and the world at large.
n Replace the word “temporary” from the heading of Article 370 and from the title of Part XXI of the Constitution with the word “special”.
n For the Governor, it says the state government, after consultations with Opposition parties, should submit a list of three names to the President. The Governor should then be chosen by the President, and hold office at the pleasure of the President.
n On Article 356, its notes the action of the Governor is now justiciable in the Supreme Court. It says the present arrangement should continue with the proviso that the Governor would keep the state legislature under suspended animation and hold fresh elections within three months.
n Proportion of officers from the All India Services should be gradually reduced in favour of officers from the state civil service.
n Do not change nomenclatures for Governor and Chief Minister.
n Create regional councils for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

ROADMAP FOR CREDIBLE DIALOGUE

n Release all “stone-pelters” and political prisoners.
n Reduce intrusive presence of security forces.
n Work for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
n Implement report of the PM’s Working Group on CBMs.
n Establish a judicial commission to look into the unmarked graves.
(Compiled by Arteev Sharma)