Jammu, Sep 24 (KNS): The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday admitted a habeas corpus petition filed by MLA Doda (East) Mehraj Malik challenging his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul directed Senior Additional Advocate General (Sr. AAG) Monika Kohli to file the government’s response by or before October 14, 2025.
The petition, filed by Malik through Senior Advocate Rahul Pant assisted by Advocates S.S. Ahmed, Appu Singh Slathia, M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary, and Joginder Singh Thakur, seeks quashing of Detention Order No. 05 of 2025 dated September 8, 2025, issued by the District Magistrate, Doda under Section 8 of the J&K PSA, 1978.
Notices were issued to the Principal Secretary (Home), District Magistrate Doda, SSP Doda, and Superintendent of District Jail Kathua.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe Court also directed notice to Deputy Commissioner Doda, Harvinder Singh (IAS), as a private respondent.
During the hearing, Malik’s counsel argued that the case involved urgency since the detenue is an elected representative whose public duties are being affected. They urged the Court to grant the shortest possible time to the respondents for filing their reply.
The petition challenges the preventive detention order on several grounds, including alleged personal bias of the District Magistrate. Malik has also sought compensation of ?5 crore from the respondents for curtailing his liberty.
The matter, which the Court observed as having wide public importance, will be heard again on October 14, 2025.(KNS).