The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 18 March, asked the Centre to inform it by next week if it will be releasing former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has been detained under the Public Safety Act, from custody.
A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and M R Shah told counsel appearing for the Centre that Abdullah's sister Sara Abdullah Pilot's plea against his detention will be heard on merit if he is not released soon.
“If you are releasing Omar Abdullah, release him soon or we will hear his sister’s plea against his detention on merit,” the apex court told the Centre.
The observations came after counsel for the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration informed the court that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing in the matter, is arguing in another court.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, said the court should fix a short date for hearing the matter.
To this the bench said only six benches are functioning due to the ongoing arrangement in the apex court and it does not know when the next turn will come.
"Probably next week we are sitting and the matter will be taken up at that time," the bench said.
Sara Abdullah Pilot last month moved a habeas corpus petition, urging the Supreme court to order the release of Omar Abdullah, who has been under detention for over seven months, saying the order was “manifestly illegal” and there was no question of him being a “threat to the maintenance of public order.”
Sara Abdullah Pilot also urged the court to quash a fresh order of detention passed in February to detain Abdullah under the Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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