Saifuddin Soz is neither detained nor under house arrest, J&K tells SC

Even as his wife has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has maintained that senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz is neither detained nor put under house arrest after abrogation of Article 370.

New Delhi: Days, after Supreme court issued notice to Jammu & Kashmir administration on a petition filed by Saifuddin Soz's wife Mumtazunnisa Soz challenging his house arrest, the administration informed on Wednesday that the senior Congress leader is neither detained nor put under house arrest after the abrogation of Article 370.

The bench led by Justice Arun Mishra was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Soz's wife, who moved to the top court on May 29.

The habeas corpus (bring the person) writ plea has sought production of Soz before the court and a direction for quashing of the detention orders passed by the authorities.

On June 9, the bench had sought a reply on this from the administration by the second week of July.

However, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi denied the government's claims and said that facts are contrary.

Soz has been re-elected numerous times for the Lok Sabha and also served as Union Minister besides being the President of the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee for quite some time, it said, adding that he was never threat to the peace.

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Last year after Article 370, which granted special status to J&K, was repealed by the centre, various prominent politicians from the valley were detained and kept them under house arrest alleging that their release would hamper the law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.