Jammu, September 24 — The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu, presided over by Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, on Wednesday admitted a Habeas Corpus Petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Doda East, Mehraj Malik, challenging his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), with the next hearing scheduled for October 14, 2025, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
Malik, detained under Detention Order No. 05 of 2025 dated September 8, 2025, issued by Doda District Magistrate Harvinder Singh, seeks to quash the order under Section 8 of the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978. Represented by Senior Advocate Rahul Pant alongside Advocates S.S. Ahmed, Appu Singh Slathia, M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary and Joginder Singh Thakur, Malik argued for an expedited response, citing his role as an elected representative detained in Kathua jail, crucial for public duties.
The court issued post-admission notices to the Principal Secretary of the J&K Home Department, District Magistrate Doda, Senior Superintendent of Police Doda and Superintendent of District Jail Kathua, accepted by Senior Additional Advocate General (Sr. AAG) Monika Kohli. The court granted Sr. AAG until October 14 to file a response and issued notice to private respondent Harvinder Singh, Doda Deputy Commissioner. Malik’s petition also alleges personal bias by the District Magistrate and claims Rs 5 crore in compensation for the curtailment of his liberty.
The case, deemed of wide public importance, will next be heard on October 14, 2025. No immediate statement from the government was available at the time of reporting.
The Chenab Times News Desk