Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday quashed the detention of separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat under the Public Safety Act ( PSA) and directed the state government to release him.
While nullifying the detention orders of September 1 and November 30 against Bhat, a single bench of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar observed that the laws were sacred as they protect the rights of the people and added that it becomes duty of the court to enforce the laws of the land even in extreme circumstances.
The High Court directed the concerned authorities to release him from preventive custody.
He was arrested on charges of waging war against the country and sedition after he allegedly raised anti-national slogans during April 15 rally organised for Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani after his return from New Delhi. Bhat was remanded to seven-day police custody after his arrest. (ANI)