Human rights forum urges full statehood for J&K and Ladakh

The Forum for Human Rights in J&K submitted its yearly review, titled “Seven Years Under Union Rule — With a Special Section on Ladakh & Pakistan-held Territories of J&K (Aug 2025-July 2026),” to senior regional politicians including Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, MY Tarigami and Tariq Hamid Karra. The forum urged the full restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and the repeal of the 2019 Reorganisation Act, cautioning that linking statehood to security issues could undermine democratic freedoms.

It also advocated for Ladakh’s statehood and its placement in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. While applauding the Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s recent orders that quashed Public Safety Act detentions and granted bail, the report observed that police practices have not substantially changed. Co-chairs Gopal Pillai and Radha Kumar highlighted a pattern of backlash against Kashmiris after terrorist incidents, citing housing discrimination and aggressive verification. The forum’s statements reflect ongoing tensions over the region’s constitutional status.