JKHBA demands release of political prisoners at executive committee meet in Srinagar

Srinagar:  The Executive members of the J&K High Court Bar Association Srinagar upon holding its meeting today by way of teleconferencing, resolved to impress upon the authorities for ordering release of all the detenues and political prisoners lodged in and outside the State of J&K including the President, J&K High Court Bar Association, Srinagar, who is presently lodged in Jail No. 3 of Central Jail Tihar, New Delhi, in the face of the direction issued by the Honble Supreme Court, impressing upon the authorities to constitute high-powered committee with a view to direct release of prisoners in the face of the COVID-19 viral threat, which has resulted in global lockdown.
In a statement issued here on Friay the KHBA said since the jails throughout India are mostly overcrowded, therefore, the Honble Supreme Court noticing the potential threat to the lives of inmates, particularly those suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other life-threatening diseases, who have been found more susceptible to become victims of COVID-19.
The Bar members noticing that their President, Mian Abdul Qayoom, who is in his advanced age surviving on a single kidney, suffering from multiple chronic ailments which include diabetes, hypertension, severe nerve damage, 60 percent blockage in one of the arteries of heart, resulting in his frail immune system, is more prone to become victim of deadly virus with minimal chances of his survival.
The members also stated that at the time when the whole world has united to counter the deadly virus by maintaining social distance, it would be very prudent and appropriate for the authorities to release the detenues/undertrial political prisoners from their respective jails, either permanently or on parole, in order to save them from contracting the deadly virus. The Bar members also resolved to make a fervent appeal to the authorities that all these detenues/undertrial political prisoners including Mian Abdul Qayoom, be released immediately and forthwith as the release of the prisoners cannot brook any delay. The members were also informed by the relatives of detenues lodged under PSA, that their Habeas Corpus Petitions have been reserved for judgments since long, but the judgments have not been announced till date, and, pleaded to request Honble The Chief Justice of J&K, to make necessary arrangements for announcement of their judgments, so that they too are released, without any delay.