J&K HC quashes AAP leader Mehraj Malik’s PSA detention

Jammu: The J&K High Court on Monday quashed the detention of Mehraj Malik, the lone AAP MP in the Union Territory Assembly, under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and directed the authorities to release him immediately.Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani gave relief to the Doda East MLA’s remarks, saying the charges against him essentially fell within the ambit of ordinary law and order and could not be extended to justify preventive detention. Malik was detained nearly eight months ago on charges of misconduct with a senior Doda official.Malik (37) described the PSA detention order issued by the Doda DM as arbitrary, politically motivated and an abuse of preventive detention powers and demanded compensation of Rs 5 crore from the authorities.The High Court held that the allegations against Malik were under investigation or before the courts and that there was no concern that his conduct might harm public order.However, the government defended the action, saying Malik had a tendency to disrupt public order and that his detention was based on reports from police, local authorities and other information.Malik has been lodged in Kathua prison. “We have won this legal battle. This strengthens our confidence in the judiciary. It was a tough eight-month journey. But as they say, all is well and ends well. Soon Malik will be with all of us and his supporters,” said Malik’s advocate and AAP spokesperson Appu Singh Slathia.