HC directs Sr. AAG to file response by or before 14th Oct, 2025
SEPT 24: Today Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu admitted the Habeas Corpus Petition filed by MLA Doda(East) Mehraj Malik wherein the detenue has sought quashment of Detention Order No. 05 of 2025 dated 08-09-2025 issued by District Magistrate, Doda under Section 8 of J&K Public Safety Act, 1978.
After hearing Sr. Advocate Rahul Pant with Advocates S.S. Ahmed, Appu Singh Slathia, M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary and Joginder Singh Thakur, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul also issued post admission notices to the Principal Secretary to Government of J&K, Home Department; District Magistrate, Doda; SSP, Doda and Superintendent, District Jail, Kathua which were accepted in the open Court by Sr. AAG Monika Kohli appearing for Government of J&K. The Court granted time to Sr. AAG to file the response by or before the next date of hearing, i.e. October 14, 2025. The Court also issued notice to private respondent i.e. S. Harvinder Singh (IAS)-Deputy Commissioner, Doda.
When this matter came up for hearing, Sr. Advocate Rahul Pant with Advocates S.S. Ahmed, Appu Singh Slathia, M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary and Joginder Singh Thakur appearing for the detenue submitted that shortest possible time be granted to the respondents to file response looking into the urgency involved in the matter as the detenue is an elected representative who is presently detained and is required by the public for carrying out various activities attached to his office.
The detenue has taken several grounds in the petition to assail the Preventive Detention Order issued by District Magistrate, Doda including his personal bias and the detenue has also claimed Rupees 05 Crores compensation from the respondents for curtailing his personal liberty.
The said matter of wide public importance will again come up for consideration before the Bench on October 14, 2025
