High Court gives J&K admn last opportunity to respond to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s plea

Srinagar, February 21

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has granted the Union Territory’s administration the final opportunity to submit a reply to a habeas corpus petition filed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, challenging his “detention.”

A single bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal stated in his order, “Reluctantly and in the interest of justice, one week’s time as prayed for is granted for doing the needful, which however, shall be the last and final opportunity.” It said the court had earlier granted time till February 2 for J&K’s senior additional Advocate General, Mohsin Qadri, to file the reply to Mirwaiz’s petition, which till date has not been filed. The next hearing will be on March 6.

The separatist leader had filed his plea last year, stating that he be allowed to deliver Friday sermons and lead the prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar. He also sought removal of impediments into his day-to-day life, including his free movement as a citizen.

Mirwaiz was put under “house detention” on August 4, 2019, a day before the Union Government abrogated Article 370.

In September last year, Mirwaiz was released from a prolonged house arrest. Initially, he was allowed to address people at Jamia Masjid. He had said that there existed no space for expression of opinions. Later, the chief cleric of Kashmir was placed under house arrest and was not allowed to offer prayers at the Jamia Mosque of Srinagar. The mosque management, Anjuman Auqaf, in a recent statement termed the frequent “house arrest” of the Mirwaiz and the government’s move to not allow him to perform prayers as interference in religious affairs.