India's Supreme Court on Monday asked the central government to make all efforts to restore normal life in Kashmir as soon as possible.
According to Indian media, Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Under the Act, the government can detain anyone without trial for up to two years. Farooq Abdullah was detained in Srinagar after the abolition of the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.
During the hearing on the petitions against the elimination of Article 370, which gave Kashmir a special constitutional status, the Supreme Court Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the court could not issue any order on the sanctions of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he said that "normal life should be restored on a priority basis in keeping with national security."
The Chief Justice added that, "If necessary, they will visit Jammu and Kashmir."
According to the state news agency PTI, a bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justin SA Bobde and SA Nazir said that since the shutdown was in the valley, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court could look into the matter itself. ۔
The central government, on the other hand, told the court that all the newspapers in Kashmir are being published and the government is cooperating in every way. The government further said that FM networks, along with the state-owned TV channel Darshan and other private channels, were also working in the state.
The Supreme Court asked the state's Attorney-General KK Venugopal to submit an affidavit to the court regarding the steps taken by the government in Kashmir and submit it to the court.
Hearing on another petition, the court has allowed Congress leader and former Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Jammu but said he would not have any address to the public during his visit. Neither will they hold a rally as they have said in their petition. '
Prior to the Supreme Court hearing, there was also news from Kashmir that the leader of the National Conference, MP from Srinagar and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah were detained under the Public Safety Act.
He was initially detained for 12 days and could be extended for up to three months if needed.
Shakil Akhtar, a BBC Urdu correspondent from Delhi, said it is not yet clear that he will be transferred to a jail after the PSA is imposed. Under this law, anyone can be detained for up to two years without trial.
He added that the Public Safety Act has been commonly used against suspected extremists, shooters and separatists. But it has rarely been used against a former chief minister and a mainstream politician.
The PSA has been imposed on Dr Farooq Abdullah at a time when the Supreme Court, while hearing a contempt of Habs Bay Jaya by a Tamil Nadu leader and Member of Parliament for presenting Farooq Abdullah, has appealed to the central government and Kashmir. Notice has been issued to the administration.
Waiko says Farooq Abdullah is not allowed to attend a seminar organized by him. The Supreme Court has fixed September 30 for the next hearing.
There are tweets appearing on social media against the imposition of PSAs on them. India's leading journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted that it is completely stupid to impose a PSA on Farooq Abdullah over 80 years of age. They have been in custody for more than a month without explanation as to what law they have broken. The more you punish those who stand with India, the more you strengthen extremism and extremism. '
It is unclear why the government suddenly imposed a PSA on Farooq Abdullah. According to the Interior Department, his residence has been turned into a sub-jail. They will be allowed to meet some of their close relatives.
Omar Abdullah, the son of Farooq Abdullah, the other major leader of the National Conference, along with several other political leaders is imprisoned in Hariwas.
All political activities have been banned from Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 and all major political leaders and members of the assembly and other activists are in prison.
It may be recalled that on August 6, after the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir was abolished, Union Home Minister Ummat Shah had said that Farooq Abdullah was neither detained nor arrested. They are voluntarily in the valley.
On the same day, Dr Farooq Abdullah said in an interview that Amit Shah was lying and he was locked up in his house.
