[Breaking] J&K Administration Revokes Preventive Detention Of Former CM Omar Abdullah

Nearly after over seven months of detention, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday revoked the preventive detention of former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, reported the PTI.

On Tuesday, order revoking his detention -presently under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act - was issued.

He had been under detention since August 5, following the revocation of the special status of J&K.

Fresh detention orders under the PSA were issued against Omar Abdulla and another ex-CM of J&K Mehbooba Mufti on February 5 under the J&K Public Safety Act, immediately before the expiry of the six months period of detention ordered in August 2019. His earlier detention since August 5, 2019 was under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

A habeas corpus petition filed by his sister Sarah Abdullah Pilot challenging the detention order is pending in the Supreme Court.

The detention is, the petition contended, based purely on political reasons. Mere opposition to the policy of the central government is being projected as against national interest to justify the detention, stated the petition. Therefore, the detention order is not justifiable under the PSA, and is ex-facie illegal and unconstitutional, as per the petition.

The petition filed in the second week of February was being considered by a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra. 

In the SC, the J&K Administration supported the detention order stating that he was a crowd influencer who could raise mass agitations against the Centre for repealing the special status of the state, which had the potential to create law and order problems in the region.

The counter affidavit filed by District Magistrate, Srinagar stated that he has been a vocal critic of attempts to repeal Article 370 & 35A and has a history of making provocative statements in social media against the Union of India.

On March 13, the detention of former CM Farooq Abdullah, father of Omar Abdullah, was revoked.