IIOJK HC lists detained MLA Mehraj Malik’s plea for final hearing on Nov 20
Jammu: The High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has listed for final consideration on November 20 a plea filed by detained legislator from Doda, Mehraj Malik.
According to Kashmir Media Service, MLA Mehraj Malik, who heads the Aam Aadmi Party’s IIOJK unit, was detained under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) on September 8 for raising issues faced by the people of his constituency. He is currently lodged in the Kathua jail. On September 24, Malik filed a habeas corpus petition, challenging his detention and claiming Rs 5 crore as compensation for his unlawful imprisonment.
When the matter was taken up for hearing, senior advocate Rahul Pant, advocate SS Ahmed, advocate Appu Singh Slathia, advocate M Tariq Mughal and advocate M Zulkarnain Chowdhary submitted that the reply has not been filed by the government till date. They further submitted that owing to the lackadaisical approach of the government, a sitting MLA was still behind bars and as a result, the people of his constituency were suffering.
Appearing for the government, senior counsel advocate Sunil Sethi, assisted by senior additional advocate general Monika Kohli, submitted that they filed their replies on Thursday but due to certain discrepancies in the affidavit, the same was not on record. The government counsel provided copies of the reply to Malik’s legal team in open court.
The High Court directed the registry to place the government’s reply on record and instructed the government’s counsel to make available the record on the next date of hearing scheduled for November 20.
