HC directs release of Masrat Aalam

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 17: High Court today directed the authorities to release the Muslim League Chairman and member of Huriyat Conference Masarat Aalam forthwith from preventive custody if he is not required in any other case.
Hearing an appeal filed by the relative of Aalam seeking quashing of the judgment of Writ Court whereby his detention was upheld in 2018, the Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Rajnesh Oswal observed that the detention of Aalam has expired as such directed the authorities to release him forthwith from the custody if he is not required in any other case.
Court while closing the appeal of Aalam noted that a person can be detained under Public Safety Act only for a period of maximum 2 years and the detention of detenue-Aalam has expired and become infructuous as perusal of record reveals that no fresh detention is in force against the detenu.
The writ court while dismissing the petition of Aalam in September 2018 had said the extremism, radicalism, terrorism have become the most worrying features of the contemporary life and had concluded the petition challenging therein the detention order passed against Aalam sans merit as such dismissed the same.
The appeal filed by Masarat Aalam through his relative was seeking quashment of Detention Order no.17-DMK/PSA of 2017 dated 14th November 2017, issued by District Magistrate, Kupwara placing Alam under preventive detention as also the writ court judgment upholding his detention.