Admin justifies detention before Speaker, Cites public order concerns
Jammu : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik from Doda was arrested on Monday and booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), marking the first instance in Jammu & Kashmir where a sitting legislator has been detained under the law.
Malik, who defeated BJP candidate Gajay Singh Rana by 4,538 votes in last year’s Assembly elections, had initially supported Omar Abdullah during government formation. The Government later informed the Legislative Assembly Speaker about the detention of Malik.
According to intimation by District Magistrate Doda, Harvinder Singh MLA Malik, who represents Doda-52 constituency, has been booked under the provisions of the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978. The communication states that the action was taken on grounds of his activities being “prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.”
“After examining relevant materials, reports, and circumstances, authorities concluded that the continuance of such activities posed a ‘grave threat’ to peace, public order and tranquillity in the district,” it reads.
The government said preventive detention under the PSA was found necessary “in the interest of maintaining public order and safeguarding law and order in the region”.
