PSA Quashment of Kashmir MLA Sparks Political Reactions: CM Omar Calls Detention ‘Gross Misuse of Law’ | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday led political reactions after the High Court set aside the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), terming the move a “gross misuse of law” and “totally unjustified.”

Reacting to the court’s decision, Omar said the legislator should not have been detained under the PSA in the first place. “He should NEVER have been detained under PSA, in fact, he should never have been detained at all. His detention was a gross misuse of this law & totally unjustified,” he said in a post on X.

He expressed hope that the authorities concerned would reflect on the use of such stringent laws in the future. “I hope the people responsible for this detention learn a valuable lesson from the decision of the Hon’ble High Court and reflect on the way these laws are being abused in JK,” he added.

The remarks came after the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh quashed Malik’s preventive detention, which had been in place since September 8, 2025. The court passed the order after hearing a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention over alleged activities prejudicial to public order.

Malik, who represents Doda constituency and heads the AAP’s JK unit, had been lodged in Kathua district jail. The court had reserved its verdict on February 23 after multiple hearings before setting aside the detention order, paving the way for his release following legal formalities.

Welcoming the court’s decision, Inam Un Nabi, Chief Spokesperson of the Awami Itihaad Party, described the quashment as a “necessary correction” that restores faith in institutional integrity.

He questioned the basis of invoking the PSA against an elected representative, stating that such actions risk undermining democratic institutions. “When such measures are misapplied, it not only affects individuals but also erodes public trust,” he said.

Inam Un Nabi also drew attention to the continued incarceration of Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid, who has been in custody for several years, and called for a more humane approach, particularly in light of his father’s critical health condition. He said the party remains hopeful ahead of Rashid’s bail hearing before the Delhi High Court.

He further noted that several political and religious leaders across party lines, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Farooq Abdullah, Syed Altaf Bukhari and Bilal Gani Lone, have expressed concern and sought relief on humanitarian grounds.

Political observers said the court’s ruling has triggered a broader debate on the application of preventive detention laws in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in cases involving elected representatives.