J&K High Court Friday directed the government to produce detention record on May 20 in the case of National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar.
Sagar was detained on August 6 last year when J&K’sspecial status was abrogated and the erstwhile state bifurcated into two unionterritories.
Subsequently, he was booked under public Safety Act onFebruary 5 this year following which he challenged his detention before the HC.
He also filed an application through his counsel Shuja ul Haq, seeking his release on health grounds including that he is suffering from hypertension and orthopaedic problems.
Sagar who has petitioned the court through his son, pleadsin the petition that he has developed a severe cardio vascular ailment duringhis detention since August 6 last year.
According to the petition, Sagar was operated upon forangiography twice at SKIMS Soura during his detention. “Since he haspre-existing serious medical conditions as such he is most susceptible tocoronavirus infection (Covid-19) which has been declared as pandemic by theWorld Health Organization,” it adds.
Bench of Justice Sindhu Sharma granted the government threemore weeks for filing the counter affidavit on the petition after senioradditional advocate general B A Dar sought more time.
While the court admitted the petition, it asked thegovernment to keep detention record available on the next date. On April 6, thecourt had extended time by two weeks for the government to file objections tothe plea.