Madras Bar Association Cancels Lecture On Article 370 Due To Objection From BJP Legal Wing

A lecture scheduled by the Madras Bar Association on Article 370 of the Constitution of India had to be cancelled due to the objection taken by the legal wing of the Bharatiya Janatha Party(BJP), reports the Times of India.

Senior Advocate K M Vijayan of Madras High Court was supposed to deliver a lecture on the topic during the lunch break on August 14 as part of the Bar Association's 'Academic Lecture Series'.

Hours before the event, the officials of the MBA received a representation from BJP legal wing taking objection to the lecture. 

"We received a letter from the BJP legal wing, signed by its office bearer L Kumararagu, requesting us to postpone the matter because the matter is sub judice", MBA President ARL Sundaresan told TOI.

The President had issued orders under Article 370 on August 5 and 6, repealing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and making Indian constitution completely applicable to the state. A curfew like situation has been imposed in the state since August 5, with all communication channels cut out. A slew of petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court questioning the Central Government measures on J&K. 

Senior Advocate Vijayan expressed disappointment at the MBA buckling under pressure. He said that he was planning to speak only on the constitutional aspects of the issue.

"No one needs to accept my view. I am neither a member of any political party nor issuing any political statement. If a lawyers forum cannot debate Constitution inside the court in Tamil Nadu, where else it is possible", asked Vijayan.

Former judge Justice D Hariparanthaman condemned the cancellation and termed it worse than Emergency. 

"If an elite institution is not able to conduct a peaceful debate of the issue, then it is a dangerous trend. That it should happen in Tamil Nadu worries me", he said.