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Srinagar, In a notable decision, the High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has ordered the immediate release of four individuals previously detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), marking a significant judicial intervention in cases involving preventive detention.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul presided over the bench that heard and subsequently allowed the habeas corpus petitions filed on behalf of Rashid Habib Zargar of Kupwara, Amir Ahmad Rather of Kulgam, Danish Bashir Dar of Srinagar, and Suhail Shabir Ganie of Budgam. The court found the detention of these individuals, which varied in commencement from as early as April 8, 2022, to as recent as March 8, 2023, to be unlawful, leading to the quashing of their PSA orders.
The PSA, often criticized for its draconian nature, has been a point of contention and a tool for contentious detentions in the region. The court’s directive to release the detainees underscores a critical stance against the misuse of preventive detention laws, especially provided that the individuals are not implicated in other legal matters.
This ruling comes as a relief to the families of the detained and is viewed by human rights advocates as a beacon of hope for the rule of law and judicial independence in the region, amidst ongoing concerns over civil liberties and human rights.