Srinagar, In a significant legal development, the High Court of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has overturned the detention of five Kashmiri youths held under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA), mandating their release unless they are involved in other legal proceedings.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the decision came from Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, who reviewed the petitions filed by the detainees – Ghowhar Ahmad Buttt, Irshad Ahmad Butt, Nadeem Ayoub Itoo, and Arshid Ahmad Mir. The court’s directive emphasizes the immediate liberation of these individuals, assuming no other charges necessitate their detention.

Additionally, the High Court has extended its judicial discretion to grant bail to Baseerat-Ul-Ain, implicated alongside Hidayat Ullah Malik among others by the NIA Court under unfounded accusations. The bail conditions, as determined by Justices Tashi Rabstan and Puneet Gupta, require Baseerat-ul-Ain to furnish personal and surety bonds valued at Rs. one lakh each.

This series of rulings signifies a critical scrutiny of the use of the PSA, often criticized for its draconian nature and the broad discretion it allows for detaining individuals without formal charges or trial. The High Court’s decisions reflect a judicial acknowledgment of the need for lawful procedures and the protection of individual rights in IIOJK.