Due Process

Mehbooba Mufti set free after over a year in detention

The Leaflet

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday revoked the detention of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, under the Public Safety after keeping her under detention for over a year – since the eve of the Centre scrapping Article 370.

J&K Government Order Revoking Detention of Mehbooba Mufti.

Mufti's release comes ahead of the crucial hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by her daughter challenging the detention of the former.

Confirming the release of her mother, Mehbooba's daughter Iltija Mufti took to Twitter to thanks those who supported her in these tough times. She said she owes a debt of gratitude to all.

Mufti's political opponent Omar Abdullah who also spent eight months under detention expressed his happiness over the release of Mufti.

"Her continued detention was a travesty & was against the basic tenets of democracy. Welcome out Mehbooba", Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Last month, the top court questioned the central government and the J&K administration over her detention, asking them: "How long can Mehbooba Mufti be kept in custody?"

The apex court gave two weeks' time to the J&K administration to make its stand clear on how long Mufti can be kept in custody and whether her custody can be extended beyond one year.