1. Home
2. Jammu Kashmir

Kashmir Bar demands release all detenues, political prisoners

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 3/28/2020 1:07:36 AM

SRINAGAR, Mar 26: High court bar association Srinagar today urged the authorities to order release of all the detenues and political prisoners lodged in and outside the state of J&K including its president Mian Abdul Qayoom.
Qayoom is presently lodged in Central Jail Tihar, New Delhi. The association in a statement said the demand has been also made in the face of the direction issued by the Supreme Court, impressing upon the authorities to constitute high-powered committee with a view to direct release of prisoners in the face of the COVID-19 viral threat, which has resulted in global lockdown.
"Since the jails throughout India are mostly overcrowded, therefore, the hon’ble supreme court noticing the potential threat to the lives of inmates, particularly those suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other life-threatening diseases, who have been found more susceptible to become victims of COVID-19," the statement added.
The bar members during a media through video conferencing said their president, Mian Abdul Qayoom, who is in his advanced age surviving on a single kidney, suffering from multiple chronic ailments which include diabetes, hypertension, severe nerve damage, 60 percent blockage in one of the arteries of heart, resulting in his frail immune system, is more prone to become victim of deadly virus with minimal chances of his survival.
The members also stated that at the time when the whole world has united to counter the deadly virus by maintaining social distance, it would be very prudent and appropriate for the authorities to release the detenues/undertrial political prisoners from their respective jails, either permanently or on parole, in order to save them from contracting the deadly virus.
The bar members also resolved to make a fervent appeal to the authorities that all these detenues and undertrial political prisoners including Mian Abdul Qayoom, be released immediately and forthwith as the release of the prisoners cannot brook any delay.
The members were also informed by the relatives of detenues lodged under PSA, that their Habeas Corpus petitions have been reserved for judgments since long, but the judgments have not been announced till date, and, pleaded to request chief justice of J&K, to make necessary arrangements for announcement of their judgments, so that they too are released, without any delay.