Srinagar, October 15 — Mehraj Malik, president of the Aam Aadmi Party in Jammu and Kashmir and MLA from Doda, has approached the High Court of J&K and Ladakh to seek permission to participate in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections voting process while detained under the Public Safety Act, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
Malik was lodged in jail last month. His application was heard by Justice Sanjay Dhar during proceedings on the main habeas corpus petition filed by the politician on September 24, challenging his detention and seeking Rs 5 crore in compensation. Justice Dhar directed the government to file its reply and listed the matter for October 18, with the main response due before November 7.
Senior advocate Rahul Pant, along with advocates SS Ahmed, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Appu Singh Slathia, Tariq Mughal, M. Zulkarnain Chowdhary, and Joginder Singh Thakur, argued that Malik requires permission to attend the assembly session, likely on October 23, and to cast his vote in the biennial elections for four Rajya Sabha seats on October 24.
Earlier, Justice Chatterji Koul issued notices to the principal secretary of the Home Department, the Doda district magistrate, the senior superintendent of police, and the superintendent of Kathua district jail, requiring responses by October 14. Senior advocate Sunil Sethi and Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli, representing the J&K government, requested additional time, which the court granted.
Malik’s vote holds significance for the fourth contested Rajya Sabha seat, where the Bharatiya Janata Party needs two more votes, compared to the National Conference’s 24 votes requiring six additional ones to secure victory.
The Chenab Times News Desk