Examiner Bureau | Jammu:
In a significant development, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday quashed the detention order issued under the Public Safety Act (PSA) against Doda East MLA and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Jammu and Kashmir president Mehraj Malik, directing his immediate release.
The detention order, issued by the District Magistrate of Doda under Section 8 of the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978, had been challenged by Malik through a habeas corpus petition filed before the court.
Reacting to the verdict, Malik’s advocate and AAP spokesperson Appu Singh Slathia said the ruling reaffirmed faith in the judiciary. “We have won this legal battle. This strengthens our trust in the justice system,” he said, while acknowledging the efforts of the legal team, including senior counsel Rahul Pant, Muzaffar Khan, Sheikh Shakeel, M. Zulkarnain and Tariq Ahmed.
Slathia described the case as a prolonged struggle spanning eight months and expressed relief over the outcome. “It was a tough journey, but justice has prevailed. Malik will soon reunite with his supporters after the court quashed the PSA,” he added.
Malik had challenged the detention order on multiple grounds, including allegations of procedural lapses and personal bias on the part of the District Magistrate. He had also sought compensation of ₹5 crore for the alleged violation of his personal liberty.
The High Court had admitted the petition on September 24, 2025, initiating judicial scrutiny of the preventive detention. With the order now set aside, the ruling marks a key legal and political development in the Union Territory.
