New Delhi: The Supreme Court bench led by Justice Arun Mishra issued notice to the Jammu & Kashmir administration today on a petition filed by Saifuddin Soz's wife Mumtazunnisa Soz challenging his house arrest since 5th August last year after Article 370 was repealed. She contended that there are no grounds for the detention and therefore the detention is illegal and unconstitutional.
The bench has sought reply on this from the administration by the second week of July when the matter will be heard again by the top court.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Soz, sought for an earlier date citing other similar cases where the notice and short dates have led to release of the leaders (Omar Abdullah) but Justice Mishra refused to do so.
On 29th May, Soz's wife had moved to the Supreme Court challenging the detention order. Soz has been under detention for more than 10 months now and his wife contends that it is against Article 21, Right to life and Article 22, Right to know the grounds of arrest.
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Earlier petitions challenging Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti detentions were also filed in the apex court. Omar Abdullah has been released along with his father and veteran politician Farooq Abdullah but Mufti still remains under house arrest.
Last year after Article 370, which granted special status to J&K, was repealed by the centre, various prominent politicians from the valley were detained and kept them under house arrest alleging that their release would hamper the law and order situation. Some of them have been released this year but some still remain in detention.
