Article 370: After Jammu And Kashmir, Are These Ten States Next?

A section of people in India are rejoicing the scrapping of Article 370, which gave a special status to he state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Indian constitution has such provisions for other states as well. unlike what people are made to believe through social media posts, Jammu and Kashmir was not the only state with a special status.

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Ten more states, mostly in the northeast have special status under Article 371 of the Indian constitution. Special status has been accorded to these state under sections A-J of Section 371.

Article 371A - Nagaland

It states that no act of Parliament shall apply to the state of Nagaland in respect to religious or social practices of the Nagas, its customary laws, and procedures, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary laws and ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

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It shall apply to Nagaland only after the state Assembly passes a resolution to do so, it says. Article 371-A states that land and its resources in the state belong to the people and not the government.

Article 371B 每 Assam

To give autonomy and voice to tribes, the President can provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of Legislative Assembly of the state consisting of members elected from the tribal areas of Assam.

Article 371C 每 Manipur

Article 371C in Manipur is similar to 371B for Assam. The president may provide for the Constitution and functions of a committee of Legislative Assembly of the state, but consisting of members elected from the hill areas of Manipur. The governor must submit an annual report to the president regarding the administration of hill areas as well.

Article 371D & E 每 Andhra Pradesh

Article 371D, which was added to the Constitution in 1974, provides equitable opportunities and facilities for the people of the state and safeguards their rights in matters of employment and education.The state government may organise civil posts or direct recruitment to posts in local cadre as required. Article 371E states that the Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of a University in Andhra Pradesh.

Article 371F 每 Sikkim

Article 371F, incorporated in 1975, states that the Legislative Assembly shall consist of not less than 30 members. In order to reflect the diversity of different groups in Sikkim, seats in the assembly are provided to people of these different sections.

Article 371G 每 Mizoram

Similar to Article 371A in case of Nagaland. An act of Parliament would not apply to Mizoram in matters relating to religious or social practices of Mizo, Mizo customary law and procedure, administration of civil or criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

Article 371H 每 Arunachal Pradesh

The governor has special powers on the state's law and order situation and can overrule the chief minister's decision on the basis of this provision

Article 371I 每 Goa

The Legislative Assembly of the state of Goa must consist of not less than 30 members.

Article 371J

Article 371J grants special status to six backward districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The special provision requires that a separate development board be established for these regions (similar to Maharashtra and Gujarat) and also ensures local reservation in education and government jobs.

Additionally, Article 371 gives the power to the President of India to establish separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and the rest of the state and Saurashtra, Kutch and rest of Gujarat.

Special provisions concerning Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa are dealt in Articles 371-D and 371-E, 371J, 371I respectively.