[dropcap]S[/dropcap]HAH Faesal, the IAS topper from Kashmir who gave up the civil service and founded Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement, (JKPM) has moved a habeas corpus plea in Delhi High Court challenging his recent detention at Delhi airport.
Complaining that no transit remand was sought in Delhi before he was “illegally” taken to Srinagar, Faesal in his petition told the court that he was at the Delhi airport on the intervening night of August 14 and 15 to travel to Harvard University, Boston to pursue his academic career.
The petitioner was represented by advocate Warisha Farasat before a division bench of Justice Manmohan and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal on Monday. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for the Central Government questioned the maintainability of the petition.
Seeking a response from the Centre, the court has fixed August 23 as the next date of hearing.
Faesal, who was reportedly on way to Boston (U.S.A.), was prevented from flying out of the international airport in Delhi on August 14. He was taken to Srinagar and moved from his home to the Centaur Hotel in Srinagar the next day.
He has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows detention without trial for up to two years.
Recently, Faesal had criticised the “unprecedented” lock-down in the Valley with its eight million population “incarcerated” like never before post the removal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, provided under Article 370.
“It’s my generation which has now got the taste of betrayal over India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir,” he told BBC in a recent interview.
President of @jkpmparty, @shahfaesal, tells @stephensackur that "it's my generation which has now got the taste of betrayal" over India's actions in #JammuKashmir pic.twitter.com/kGSu5XPxwY
— BBC HARDtalk (@BBCHARDtalk) August 13, 2019
