Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 17: State High Court today quashed the detention of alleged lady over ground worker of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit namely Ruksana Begum alias Halima Begum, who was detained under Public Safety Act by the order of District Magistrate, Doda on January 26, 2011.
According to the petitioner’s case, on January 12, 2011 when she went to get her medical examination conducted in the Government District Hospital Doda she was arrested on the allegation that she demanded handsome money from BDO Bhagwah for HM militants.
Later, District Magistrate Doda issued detention order under Public Safety Act, which was challenged on various grounds including that the petitioner was illiterate lady and never found involved in any militancy related incident.
After hearing Advocate Rohit Verma for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG Gagan Basotra for the State, Justice J P Singh observed, “detenue has questioned the detention on various grounds and perusal of the grounds of detention reveals that Ruksana Begum alias Halima Begum was in police custody in FIR No. 13/2011 registered at Police Station, Doda, under Sections 7/25/27 IAA, 212/216 RPC and 3/4 ESA when her detention in preventive custody was ordered”.
“The ground on the basis of which she was ordered to be detained under PSA does not indicate detaining authority’s satisfaction on real likelihood of detenue’s release from custody in FIR No. 13/2011, in which she was detained at the time of her detention in preventive custody”, the Court said, adding “detaining authority had no material available with it for recording satisfaction that detenue was likely to be released from custody”.
With these observations, High Court quashed District Magistrate order and directed respondents to release Ruksana Begum alias Halima Begum from preventive custody.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel