High Court Nullifies Illegal Detention of Kashmiri Lawyer in IIOJK

In a major blow to unlawful detentions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the High Court has overturned the arrest of prominent lawyer Nazir Ahmad Ronga, exposing the lack of evidence behind the move.

The court ruled that the detention of senior advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) was baseless. It highlighted that the allegations leveled against the former president of the IIOJK High Court Bar Association were vague and unsubstantiated, lacking any solid proof.

Ronga had been taken into custody last year in what many described as yet another politically motivated act. He was arrested on the night of July 11, 2024, from his Srinagar residence. Following his arrest, he was shifted to Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu. His family was left in the dark regarding the specific PSA charges at the time of his detention, which was later revealed to be ordered by the District Magistrate of Srinagar.

The verdict came after Ronga’s wife filed a habeas corpus petition, challenging the legality of his detention. In her plea, she emphasized that the detention order was arbitrary and solely aimed at tarnishing her husband’s reputation and professional standing. She further argued that the move was politically motivated, adding to the series of unlawful actions taken against Kashmiri leaders and activists.

It is important to note that this was not the first time Nazir Ahmad Ronga faced such oppressive measures. He was previously detained in 2019 under the PSA following the controversial and unlawful revocation of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.

The judgment is being viewed as a rare legal victory in the backdrop of systematic suppression and unjustified arrests carried out by Indian authorities in IIOJK. Over the years, the PSA has been widely criticized for enabling authorities to detain individuals without trial, often without informing the detainees or their families about the reasons for their arrest.

The case of Advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga sheds light on the ongoing misuse of laws like the PSA to silence dissenting voices and crush political opposition in the occupied region. Human rights organizations and legal experts have long condemned such practices, calling for the immediate repeal of oppressive laws and the release of all political prisoners.

The High Court’s decision to quash the detention reinforces the urgent need for judicial oversight and accountability in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where thousands continue to face illegal detentions and systemic violations of their fundamental rights.