Yasin Malik Granted Permission for Remote Cross Examination from Tihar Jail

The Indian Supreme Court has granted permission to the incarcerated Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, to cross-examine witnesses in two cases through video conferencing from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

The decision follows a plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which sought the transfer of trials related to what are widely considered politically motivated cases against the Kashmiri leader. The court’s ruling enables Malik to participate in legal proceedings without being physically present in the courtroom, a move that comes amid growing concerns over the fairness of trials involving political prisoners from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan reviewed technical reports from the registrar IT of the Delhi High Court and the registrar general of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The assessment focused on the availability of video conferencing facilities in Tihar Jail and Jammu, ultimately concluding that the necessary infrastructure was in place to facilitate remote participation in the hearings.

Yasin Malik, a prominent pro-freedom leader, has been imprisoned in Tihar Jail under stringent charges. His detention is seen by many as part of India’s broader efforts to suppress Kashmiri political movements and silence dissenting voices advocating for self-determination.

Observers argue that while the Supreme Court’s decision offers a procedural avenue for Malik to engage in his defense, it does little to address the larger issue of political repression in Kashmir. Human rights groups continue to call for his release, asserting that his imprisonment is emblematic of India’s continued clampdown on Kashmiri leaders.