KL Report
Srinagar
In a major development and first of its kind, Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Jammu and Kashmir government asking it to explain the reason of continuous imprisonment of Hurriyat(G) leader Masrat Aalm Bhat. Supreme Court has given four weeks of deadline to the state government for submitting its response.
After his arrest in October,2010, police slapped six PSAs in a row against Masrat Aalam. His first five detentions were quashed by the state high court.
“Sensing the ineffectiveness of the state high court, we decided to move to the apex court. Hence an application was moved through SC lawyer Mittya Ramakrshna some time back and the application was heard today,” a Muslim league spokesman told Kashmir Life. The spokesman added that Masrat was taken to Jammu on Friday for a medical checkup. He said that Masrat, who is lodged in district Jail Kuthua, is suffering from so many ailments.
Sources said that the application on behalf of Masrat Aalam Bhat was moved by his uncle, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, challenging PSA against Masrat and the application was heard by Justice R S Lodha and Justice Mukhopadhyay. The SC issued a notice to the Home SecretaryJ&K, District Magistrate Srinagar and SPP Srinagar.
It is for the first time that Supreme Court of India issued a notice to the state government asking it to explain the reason of imprisonment of a pro-freedom leader undergoing Public Safety Act (PSA).
The pioneer of 2010, mass uprising, Masrat Aalam Bhat, was arrested on October 2010, after remaining underground for more than four months in order to avoid his arrest. By the time Masrat used to issue protest calendars which were strictly followed by the people.
Masrat Aalam Bhat is the deputy chief of Muslim League, a constituent of Hurriyat (G), lead by Syed Ali Geelani. Muslim League Chief, Dr Ashiq Hussain Faktoo alias Dr Qasim is undergoing life imprisonment in central jail Srinagar.
