Srinagar, Dec 10: In response to the allegations of illegal detention of two wheelers, Srinagar Police on Friday submitted before court that “it has the highest respect of rule of law and Police never supersedes the authority of court.”
On November 6, the Court of Additional Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Srinagar presided over by Shabir Ahmad Malik sought report from police over detention of two-wheelers in the summer capital.
The Court had directed Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar to call the report from Police Stations within district Srinagar regarding the issue and submit the compliance report within a period of ten days.
In its response filed today, the Police submitted that “at the very outset allegations levelled against District Police Srinagar are vehemently denied, being baseless, far from facts and reality and nothing more than a mere figment of imagination on part of the applicant.”
“A report was sought from SDPO Shaheed Gunj and SHO Police Station Batamaloo, so as to arrive at the facts, as the applicant has made specific allegations in his application,” the report reads.
It added that vehicle of the applicant was neither detained nor seized by Police, “thus allegation of releasing the same by allegedly exercising powers of a Traffic Magistrate are vehemently denied being not correct, baseless, far from facts and reality.”
It added that compounding of challans fall within the exclusive purport and domain of Traffic Police and “District Police Srinagar has nothing to do with it.”
“District Police Srinagar have the highest respect of rule of law and are an accountable, responsible government functionary having complete adherence and utmost regard to authority and powers.”
“Thus having acquaintance of this accountability and responsibility, District Police Srinagar never ever supersedes the authority/power of a Magistrate/Judge (sic),” it reads.
Praying for the dismissal of application filed by the applicant, it added that “it is explicitly clear that allegations leveled against Police are baseless, contrary to facts and reality and are not correct.”
On November 6, this year, applicant Naveed Bukhtiyar who claimed to be a social activist had moved application, pleading that “from last one month, J&K Police has been detailing two-wheelers illegally in violation of the provision of the Motor Vehicle Act and thereafter releasing the same by exercising the power of Mobile Magistrate/Traffic Judge (sic).”