Iltija Mufti Moves Supreme Court For Mother Mehbooba Mufti's Release

Iltija Mufti, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, filed a habeas corpus for her mother in the Supreme Court. Her petition challenges Mehbooba Mufti’s extended detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since February 2020. Iltija Mufti petitioned against both the PSA order and the extension of her mother’s detention.

The PSA is a law unique to Jammu and Kashmir. It allows authorities to detain a person for a period of up to two years without any recourse to trial. Initially, in August 2019, Mehbooba Mufti, along with various other prominent J&K politicians, including father-son duo Farooq and Omar Abdullah, was taken into ‘preventive custody’ right before the Centre repealed Article 370. Later, the J&K authorities detained her under the PSA as she neared the end of her six-month custody. In July 2020, they extended Mehbooba Mufti’s detention by three months.

What You Should Know: 

• Iltija Mufti, daughter of former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, filed a habeas corpus for her mother in the Supreme Court.
• Her petition challenges Mehbooba Mufti’s extended detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since February 2020.
• Iltija Mufti petitioned against both the PSA order and the extension of her mother’s detention.
• Currently, Mehbooba Mufti is the only notable PSA detainee in J&K.

Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti’s Daughter Writes Letter To Home Minister Amit Shah

Iltija Mufti’s Plea For Detained Mother

Reportedly, Iltija Mufti’s plea referred to her mother’s detention as illegal as well as unquestionable in a democracy. Furthermore, she also told the SC that the J&K administration had ignored the court’s February ruling in the same matter and was yet to file a reply. “(This) shows the respect they have for courts and the SC,” Iltija Mufti added.

Iltija Mufti also expressed her contempt for the administration’s treatment of her mother Mehbooba Mufti. She pointed out that the authorities deliberately withheld her mother, who is the president of PDP, from meeting any of the party’s members. She highlighted that the administration also illegally disconnected her mother’s landline phone. Her plea said that the foremost reason cited for her mother’s detention was Mehbooba Mufti’s refusal to sign a bond or “surety”. Iltija called the same “a blanket undertaking not to make any comment on the recent events in the State.”

Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti Asks For Status Of All Women Welfare Schemes

The Last Of The Detainees

Currently, Mehbooba Mufti is the only notable political detainee under the PSA. The authorities released Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah earlier this year. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cited the precarious law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir as the only reason for continuing to detain someone under the PSA.

The MHA also said: “There are no restrictions on movement of any individual, including the protectees of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Considering the law and order and security situation of a particular area, it is imperative that prior intimation is given by the protected persons regarding their movements etc.”

Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti Shifted Closer Home In Srinagar After Daughter’s Appeal

Tarini Gandhiok is an intern with SheThePeople.TV