The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice in the habeus corpus petition filed by MDMK Chief and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko for the release of National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah. The apex court has asked for a response from the Centre by September 30. In his petition, Vaiko had demanded that the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, who has been under house arrest since August 4, be released and allowed to attend an event in Chennai.
During the hearing, the three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice SA Bobde and Justice Abdul Nazeer asked the Solicitor General whether Farooq Abdullah was under detention, to which, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta responded that he will get instructions from the government. The Supreme Court then issued a notice to the government even as SG Tushar Mehta opposed it, saying that the petitioner, Vaiko, had no locus standi in the case, reports LiveLaw.
Vaiko in his petition had stated that for many years, he has been organising a conference in Chennai for leaders from across the country on the occasion of the birthday of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CN Annadurai. This year, the event was scheduled to be held on September 15 and Farooq Abdullah, who has attended previous editions of the conference had agreed to attend this year as well. However, last month Farooq Abdullah was put under house arrest in Srinagar and Vaiko has said that despite his efforts, he has not been able to reach him. Vaiko had added that he had written to authorities on August 29 to seek the permission of the Central government as well the Secretary, Home Department, Jammu and Kashmir, to allow Dr Farooq Abdullah to travel to Chennai but he failed to get a response.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Farooq Abdullah has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the location where the National Conference Chief will be housed has been declared a temporary jail via an order. The PSA allows detention of any individual for up to two years without a trial.
Farooq Abdullah has been under detention at his residence in Srinagar since August 4. Ahead of the Presidential order removing the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, a massive clampdown was issued in the former state. Many leaders in the Valley, including Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah’s son Omar Abdullah, were placed under house arrest and continue to remain so. Mobile and internet services remain suspended and while authorities deny any incidents of violence and dissent, there have been reports of protests and action by the government in the Valley.