(L-R) Former CM and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, and former CM and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti. (File Photo)
A day after sending out an invite for a seminar in Kashmir on the Uniform Civil Code, the Indian Army Saturday said it had been “cancelled due to implementation of the Model Code of Conduct”.
Titled ‘Navigating Legal Frontiers: Understanding Indian Penal Code 2023 and the Quest for Uniform Civil Code’, the “legal awareness seminar” was scheduled to be held at the Kashmir University on March 26. Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Kotishwar Singh, was the chief guest, while the invite had gone out on behalf of Major General PBS Lamba, General Officer Commanding (GoC) HQ 31 Sub Area. J&K law secretary Achal Sethi was among the speakers at the event.
According to the event schedule, topics that were supposed to be discussed included “challenges and benefits of moving from a system of diverse personal laws to a uniform legal code”, “how a uniform civil code aligns with the principles of secularism and its potential impact on fostering social harmony in a diverse society”, “how uniform civil code may contribute to upholding individual rights and freedom”, and “specific reforms needed for family law and inheritance laws, highlighting the potential benefits and concerns associated with UCC”.
The proposed seminar drew criticism from former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.
In a post online, Abdullah, the National Conference vice-president, asked: “Is it appropriate for the Indian Army to get involved in the divisive issue of the uniform civil code and that too in a sensitive area like Kashmir? There is a reason the Indian army has remained apolitical and areligious. This ill-advised UCC seminar is a threat to both these basic tenets. Going ahead with this risks opening up the Army to charges of getting involved in the murky world of politics coupled with interfering in religious matters.”
Speaking to The Indian Express, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mufti said, “Indian military is the fourth strongest and one of the most disciplined forces in the world. But since BJP has weaponised religion and is infiltrating it into all sacred institutions of the country, the Army seems to be yet another casualty.”
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
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