Restore J&K statehood, rights forum urges; warns security link erodes democracy

The Forum for Human Rights in Jammu & Kashmir has called for full restoration of statehood for the Union Territory and the repeal of the 2019 Reorganisation Act. In its annual report, the forum cautioned that arguments linking statehood restoration to the security situation could erode democratic rights.

The report, titled “Seven Years Under Union Rule — With a Special Section on Ladakh & Pakistan-held Territories of J&K (Aug 2025–July 2026)”, was presented to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, CPM leader MY Tarigami, and Congress J&K president Tariq Hamid Karra.

The forum said that the argument that restoring statehood is “not appropriate” because of security concerns and terrorist attacks is dangerous. Such reasoning, it said, could be used to indefinitely postpone constitutional commitments and undermine the democratic rights of the people.

The forum also supported statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which would allow for autonomous district councils, a demand repeatedly raised by social and political groups in the region.

While acknowledging the positive role of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, the report noted that the court has passed a series of orders quashing detentions under the Public Safety Act and granting bail in cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Public Safety Act. However, the forum expressed concern that repeated strictures by the court do not appear to have led to course correction by the police.

The report also alleged that Kashmiris face a familiar backlash following terrorist attacks, including the recent Red Fort blast in New Delhi. It claimed that they encounter housing discrimination, forced evictions, aggressive verification, and hostility from neighbours, shopkeepers, and co-workers. These allegations are part of the forum’s report and are not independently verified.

The forum is co-chaired by Gopal Pillai, a former Union home secretary, and Radha Kumar, a former member of the group of interlocutors for Jammu & Kashmir. The group has previously released reports documenting human rights issues in the region.

The demand for restoration of statehood has been a recurring theme in the political discourse of the region since August 2019, when the central government revoked the special status of the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. Several mainstream political parties in Jammu & Kashmir have repeatedly called for restoring statehood, saying it is a necessary step before any further political process.

The forum’s report comes amid ongoing debates over the pace of political normalisation in the Union Territory. While the government has maintained that its actions are aimed at ensuring security and development, the forum’s report reflects concerns expressed by a section of civil society.