KL Report
Srinagar
State government on Friday, sought two week’s time to furnish the details about the detention of Hurriyat(G) leader Masrat Aalam Bhat in the Supreme Court. The Apex Court directed the state government to come up with full details by March 7, 2013 saying that it is the final deadline to the government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in the month of January, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Jammu and Kashmir government asking it to explain the reason of continuous imprisonment of Hurriyat(G) leader Masrat Aalm Bhat.
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 have decided to move to the apex court. Hence an application was moved through Supreme Court lawyer Mittya Ramakrshna some time back and the application was heard for the second time on February 22,” a Muslim league spokesman told Kashmir Life. He added that Masrat is not brought before the Srinagar courts regularly.
Sources said that the application in the Supreme Court on behalf of Masrat Aalam Bhat was moved by his uncle, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, challenging PSA against Masrat and the application was first heard by Justice R S Lodha and Justice Mukhopadhyay. The SC issued a notice to the Home Secretary J&K, District Magistrate Srinagar and SPP Srinagar.
It is for the first time that Supreme Court of India is listening a case of a separatist leader who is undergoing Public Safety Act.
The pioneer of 2010, mass uprising, Masrat Aalam Bhat, was arrested on October 18, 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 the central jail Srinagar.
