Police register FIR against criticism of HC verdict against Bar Leader on Social Media

The Jammu & Kashmir Police have registered a case against unknown persons who according to them has criticised a recent verdict on social media which was passed against J&K HC Bar Association president, Mian Abdul Qayoom.

ShaheedGanj Police had received information from reliable sources that certain comments have been uploaded on social media in respect of a recent judgment passed by the division bench of the High Court, in a case titled as Mian Abdul Quyoom vs Union Territory of J&K & others, dismissing the habeas corpus petition.

The statement said that “It Prima-facie reveals that the comments so uploaded on social media had been made with the intention not only to disrepute the HC but also causing disharmony in the general public & thereby making an attempt at dissuading them from reposing faith in the institution of judiciary. The comments are also aimed to push the miscreants to cause public disorder in the society,” the statement said adding that case has been lodged under the relevant sections of law. “Further investigation has been initiated in the case".

Last month the High Court had asked incarcerated Qayoom if he would like to shun his ‘secessionist’ ideology & then left it to the Govt to take a decision after such a representation.

While dismissing an appeal by Qayoom against his detention under Public Safety Act, the division bench of the Court comprising Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul & Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey endorsed the stand of Advocate General that the FIRs & the grounds of detention against Qayoom depict & relate to the secessionist ideology of the detainee.

The Court had said that “While addressing his arguments on the ideology nourished & nurtured by the detainee, the learned advocate general submitted that such ideology cannot be confined or limited to time to qualify it to be called stale or fresh or proximate, unless, of course, the person concerned declares & establishes by conduct & expression that he has shunned the ideology (emphasis supplied)".

The bench also had left it to the discretion of the Govt. or the concerned authorities to take a decision in terms of the relevant provision(s) of the J&K PSA on any such representation, if made, by the detainee.

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