Srinagar, The High Court in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has issued a final ultimatum to the administration backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a justification for the restrictions imposed on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). These restrictions have notably affected his ability to lead religious activities, including attending and conducting prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, despite being released from house arrest in September last year, Mirwaiz continues to face significant limitations on his movements and religious duties. He has been particularly prohibited from attending Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid and leading religious gatherings, which he argues is a violation of his fundamental rights to religious practice.

In a statement to the media, Mirwaiz criticized the administration’s lack of clarity and transparency regarding the ongoing restrictions, pointing out the administrative evasiveness encountered when seeking reasons for these constraints. He highlighted his limited access to the Jamia Masjid for only three consecutive Friday congregations following his release, after which he was barred again, including during significant religious occasions like Shab e Miraj.

With the holy month of Ramadan imminent, Mirwaiz expressed concerns over his capacity to fulfill his religious obligations as the Mirwaiz, a position of considerable religious leadership and influence in the region.

Justice Wasim Sadiq Narwal of the High Court addressed the issue by setting a strict one-week deadline for the administration to provide a comprehensive response detailing the rationale behind the restrictions on Mirwaiz. The justice warned that failure to comply with this directive would lead to the case proceeding without the administration’s input on the next scheduled hearing.

This legal confrontation underscores the ongoing tensions and disputes over religious and political freedoms in the region, particularly concerning the rights of prominent Kashmiri leaders under the Modi government’s rule.