Srinagar (J&K): Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday met Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, who was recently released on bail, in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.
"It is unfortunate and painful that people have to approach courts for the dead bodies of their loved ones so that the burial process can be completed with all religious obligations and rituals," Mehbooba said after meeting Parra in Pulwama.
Under tight security, Mehbooba met Parra and his family members. Parra was granted bail by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on May 25 after remaining in custody for nearly two years.
Interestingly, Parra won the DDC election while in custody, but could not represent his constituency and has also not taken oath as a DDC member yet.
The PDP leader, who is facing militancy charges, approached the High Court after his bail application was rejected for the second time by the special NIA court.
Interestingly, Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 provides an opportunity to appeal against any order of the special court granting or denying bail.
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While Sub-section 2 directs that such appeals be heard by a two-judge bench of the High Court. However, an appeal under this section must be filed within 30 days.
Parra appealed to the High Court more than two months after his bail was revoked, resulting in a 33-day delay. However, the court, after considering the submissions made by Parra's counsel, allowed the application.
In February, while the court was working virtually due to the COVID lockdown, Parra's counsel drew the court's attention to the undertrial's "deteriorating health." He said: "... there is no treatment for him." However, a lawyer representing the state immediately disagreed.
The court, noting the urgency presented by Parra's lawyer, decided to hear the case immediately after four days.
At a subsequent hearing, the court ordered the lawyer to be physically present and also directed the UT administration to file a report on Parra's health condition before the court.
Due to various factors, including lack of time, the final arguments did not begin until Chief Justice Pankaj Mittal constituted a special division bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Vinod Chatterjee.
On May 21, a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had reserved its decision on the bail plea of Parra, a young leader of the People's Democratic Party. The bench held a partial hearing on April 27 and May 13, while arguments on the matter were completed on May 20.
