Lone files PIL in HC against ‘misuse’ of police verification

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in Srinagar, challenging the “misuse of the police verification process”, the party said on Thursday.

According to the party, the PIL seeks to address the “growing misuse of police verifications as a tool of collective punishment, targeting individuals based on the actions or affiliations of their family members”.

Lone’s move comes in response to his earlier commitment to protect the rights of citizens, emphasising that the police verification process should not penalise individuals for factors outside their control, particularly the conduct of their relatives.

“The current system has been used to deny citizens their basic rights, such as employment, access to passports and other essential opportunities. It is imperative that the verification process remains transparent, fair and aligned with legal standards,” said Lone.

According to him, the petition calls for strict enforcement of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services, which mandate clear timelines for police verification.

“These guidelines, which focus solely on an individual’s criminal record, are often overlooked, causing unnecessary difficulties. We are committed to ensuring their proper enforcement so that no citizen is unfairly punished for the actions of others,” Lone said.

He said the PIL also highlights “violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality, the freedom to pursue any profession and the right to live with dignity”.

“When police verifications are based on irrelevant factors, such as the actions of a person’s relatives, it not only violates their rights but subjects them to undue hardships which remains ethically and constitutionally unjustified,” the MLA said.

He further clarified that this PIL is not driven by politics, but by a commitment to justice, equality and the protection of constitutional rights.

“The petition includes real-life cases that illustrate the severe economic, social and emotional hardships caused by arbitrary police verification practices. This is about safeguarding the dignity and rights of the people. We will continue to fight for justice for the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.

According to the party, the PIL has been submitted to the court registry and is under procedural review. It will be listed for hearing once cleared by the registry.