Jammu & Kashmir High Court allows two MPs to meet Farooq and Omar Abdullah (with restrictions)

In the midst of the house arrest imposed on political leaders in the region, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court has allowed two Members of Parliament belonging to the J&K National Conference to meet party heads Farooq and Omar Abdullah..However, the High Court has imposed a few restrictions on the petitioners. The most significant of these is that the petitioners are prohibited from interacting with the media after the meeting with the party leaders..Before the High Court, the petitioners claimed that the party’s two top functionaries have been under house arrest since August 5, when the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 2019 was passed by the Centre. It was argued that the petitioners were concerned for the well-being of Farooq and Omar Abdullah..It was also stated that the lead petitioner – former judge of the High Court and Senior Advocate Hasnain Masoodi – would be able to render legal assistance to the Abdullahs..When the matter came up for hearing on September 6, the High Court asked Senior Additional Advocate General Javed Iqbal to ascertain whether the petitioners were actually prevented from meeting the Abdullahs. On the September 11 hearing, the AAG and Advocate General DC Raina said that there was no formal restriction on the petitioners meeting their party leaders. It was also submitted that the state government would not be averse to such a meeting, as long as “they would not do anything aimed at vitiating the peaceful atmosphere”..Thus, the Single Judge Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar to immediately facilitate a meeting between the petitioners and the Abdullahs. The Court further ordered,.“It would be appropriate if the petitioners are permitted to meet the aforesaid persons separately on different occasions, either on the same day or on different days.”.The order goes on to place the following restrictions:.“That the petitioners shall ensure that their meeting with their party President and Vice President is restricted to a courtesy call and to know about the wellbeing of the aforesaid two persons..That the petitioners, after meeting their party President and Vice President, shall not go to press/media regarding their meeting and deliberations with the aforesaid persons.”.The order concludes with a request to the Deputy Commissioner to arrange the meeting within the week..MDMK leader and Rajya Sabha member Vaiko recently moved a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to produce former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah. Another petition seeking the immediate release of political leaders currently under house arrest is also pending before the Apex Court..Read the order:.Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.