Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday called a “step in the right direction” the Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s order to not deny the passport to a militant’s brother whose father too, was an overground worker’s (OGW) solely on the grounds of person being related to them.
“The honourable high court’s decision of not denying a passport to an individual for merely being related to a militant is certainly a step in the right direction. Given how even the basic fundamental right to travel is being weaponised brutally since 2019 in J&K,” Muft wrote in a post on X.
She said countless such cases are pending in passport offices awaiting clearance from the CID department and that not only individuals but journalists, students and job seekers in Jammu and Kashmir are denied jobs even though they match the criteria required for government positions only because of a negative report given by CID.
“The status of the related militant—whether dead or alive—seems irrelevant. Unfortunately, this policy has even been extended to individuals even remotely related to Jamaat-e-Islami party members as well,” she added.
The honourable High Court’s decision of not denying a passport to an individual for merely being related to a militant is certainly a step in the right direction. Given how even the basic fundamental right to travel is being weaponised brutally since 2019 in J&K. There are…
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 12, 2025
What the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ruled
“Having regard to the aforesaid reasons and discussions made hereinabove, this Court is of the considered opinion that there is no reason to not recommend the case of the petitioner for issuance of passport just for the involvement of his brother in militancy activities in the WP(C) No. 21/2023 year 2011 when he was killed and the listing of his father as an OGW for grant of passport in his favour,” the high court said in its ruling on Tuesday.
Granting a petition filed by Mohammad Amir Malik, a bench led by Justice M.A. Chowdhary directed the Additional Director General of Police, CID, to re-submit the report to the Regional Passport Officer (RPO) within four weeks, ensuring it remains uninfluenced by the conduct or activities of Malik’s brother and father.
The court further instructed the RPO to review Malik’s case based on the ADGP CID’s report and issue an appropriate order in his favour within two weeks thereafter.
