KL Report
SRINAGAR
A double bench of the State High Court after accepting the application of jailed Dr Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, alias Dr Qasim has fixed October 8, to decide about his fate whether he has to remain behind bars till his death or not.
Dr Qasim Faktoo had moved an application against the decision of a single bench that life imprisonment means imprisonment for the whole life.
Dr Faktoo who has been awarded life imprisonment in the murder case of H N Wanchoo in 90s, has filed the appeal through his counsel advocate Mian Abdul Qayoum.
Sources said that a division bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice D S Thakur has admitted the petition after advocate Qayoom argued that the term “life” means entire life is not applicable to Jammu And Kashmir State.
He said the state of Jammu and Kashmir has its own law and as per state Prisons Act and jail manual, the life imprisonment means only 20 years so the Supreme Court judgment cannot overrule this law.
Sources added that after hearing the arguments the double bench has fixed the case for final hearing on October 8.
Pertinently, single bench of the state high court had earlier dismissed the petition of Dr Faktoo, seeking his release after serving more than 20 years in jail.
