HC seeks evidences of Farooq’s alleged ‘pro-freedom’ speeches

TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/21/2019 11:02:10 AM

JAMMU: In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday has sought the newspaper clippings and compact disc carrying evidence of pro-freedom speeches allegedly made by former Chief Minister and National Conference chief Dr Farooq Abdullah before August 30, when it will next hear the plea seeking registration of FIR against Abdullah for Sedition.
One Sukesh C Khajuria had filed a writ petition seeking registration of FIR under Section 124-A RPC against Abdullah for his alleged Pro-Freedom Speeches made on the occasion of 111th Birth Anniversary of Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Naseem Bagh (Hazratbal), Srinagar and subsequently on February, 24, 2017 at Nawa-e-Subh, Headquarter of National Conference on the occasion of second death Anniversary of Former General Secretary of National Conference Sheikh Nazir Ahmed.
Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur in the open court directed counsel for Khajuria to produce the relevant material on the next date of hearing for its further handing over to AAG Aseem Sawhney for completion of the preliminary inquiry in the complaint.
At the outset, Khajuria through his counsel submitted that despite grant of several opportunities by the Court the SSP Srinagar and SHO Nageen have not filed the status report indicating the progress of the preliminary enquiry initiated against Abdullah.
There is a deliberate and intentional delay in the matter as the notices were issued on September, 1, 2017 to SSP Srinagar and SHO Police Station, Nageen for filing their response but there is slackness on their part with the result the inquiry is yet to be finalized in the matter, he submitted.
He also said that the original complaint had been lodged by the petitioner to the District Magistrate Jammu who had forwarded the same to the District Magistrate Srinagar alongwith a copy of compact disc and the relevant newspaper clippings, who further forwarded the complaint to the SSP Srinagar alongwith the relevant material for taking appropriate action in the matter.
But now, it is being wrongly contended that the newspaper clippings and compact disc are not available with the complainant, he said.
AAG Aseem Sawhney appearing for the State Government submitted that although the statement of the petitioner has been recorded yet the petitioner did not produce the requisite material in the shape of newspaper cuttings and compact disc allegedly containing informative material.
Then, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur directed the petitioner shall produce the relevant material and handover the same to AAG Aseem Sawhney on the next date of hearing for its onward transmission to the SSP Srinagar.
The Court looking into the importance of the matter directed the Registry to list this matter for further consideration on August, 30, 2019.


Comment on this Story