SC issues notice to government on Mehbooba’s detention

SRINAGAR — The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir Government on a plea challenging the detention of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, while hearing a Habeas Corpus writ petition filed by Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti, challenging the preventive detention of her mother under PSA issued the notice.

Iltija in her petition had pleaded that the impugned detention order, issued on 5-2-2020, is wholly based on the impugned dossier, which is manifestly biased, slanderous and libellous against the detainee, which no reasonable person ought to rely on, for depriving a citizen for her fundamental freedom and personal liberty.

Supreme Court in its direction asked the government to come up with a reply and fixed March 18 as the next date for a hearing.