IIOJK HC quashes PSA detention of Rajouri man over bovine transport allegations
Jammu: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court has quashed the preventive detention of a man from Rajouri, ruling that allegations of transporting bovine animals without permission, by themselves, were insufficient to invoke the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA).
According to Kashmir Media Service, Justice MA Chowdhary passed the judgment, while allowing a habeas corpus petition filed by Sabeer Ahmed of Bakhar in Rajouri’s Siot tehsil.
Ahmed had been detained under an order issued by the District Magistrate, Rajouri, on March 3, 2026, under Section 8 of the PSA. The authorities relied on three FIRs registered against him in 2023 and 2025, alleging that he had transported bovine animals without valid permission from the District Magistrate. They argued that the cases showed his continued involvement in criminal and anti-social activities.
Ahmed challenged the detention, arguing that the FIRs did not establish any conduct that could be considered prejudicial to public order.
The High Court noted that such conduct could be dealt with under ordinary criminal law and could not, by itself, be treated as an activity threatening public order. Justice Chowdhary further observed that the detention record did not establish that Ahmed’s alleged activities had resulted in public outrage or had the potential to disturb public order.
The court therefore found that the material relied upon by the authorities was insufficient to justify detention under the PSA. It also held that authorities had violated the detainee’s constitutional right to make an effective representation by failing to inform him that he could approach the detaining authority against the detention order.
The High Court subsequently quashed the detention order and directed the authorities to release Sabeer Ahmed forthwith, if he was not required in any other case.
The ruling highlights concerns over the use of the draconian PSA in IIOJK in cases where allegations may otherwise be dealt with under ordinary law. Rights groups and critics have long raised concerns that such preventive detention laws are being used by authorities to intimidate and silence Kashmiris, particularly those asserting political and religious rights.
