The High Court of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh has quashed the detention of Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, the brother of slain Maqbool Bhat, under the Public Safety Act.
Bhat, a resident of Mirpora, Thregam village in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, had been detained since 2022 and was lodged in Karnal Jail, Haryana.
The court’s decision came after Advocate Bashir Ahmad Tak, representing Bhat, argued that the detention order was issued arbitrarily and lacked substantive grounds.
Advocate Tak contended that the allegations mentioned in the detention order had no connection to Bhat and were fabricated to justify the detention.
He further asserted that the grounds of detention were vague and insufficient for a fair representation, violating the safeguards provided under the law.
“The entire material forming the basis of the detention order was not provided to my client, and his representation against the detention was not considered,” Advocate Tak as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust argued in court.
In response, the authorities defended their decision, stating that Bhat’s activities were “highly prejudicial to the security of the State” and that his detention was necessary due to his involvement in serious offences detailed in registered FIRs.
After hearing both sides, Justice Sanjay Dhar quashed the PSA detention, declaring it invalid. The court directed the authorities to release Bhat from custody immediately unless he is required in connection with any other pending case. [KNT]