SC on Dr. Kafeel Khan Final Disposal

SC on Dr Kafeel Khan Final Disposal

The Allahabad HC on Wednesday adjourned hearing on the plea challenging the detention of Dr Kafeel Khan under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

The writ petition in the nature of habeas corpus filed against alleged illegal detention of Dr. Kafeel Khan, for disposal on 24^th August 2020 in the Supreme Court. The writ petition was filed by Dr.Kafeel’s mother, Nuzhat Parween.

The Supreme Court dismissed the plea. The Supreme Court said,

“We consider it appropriate that the matter be taken up by the Allahabad High Court. The record of the matter be transmitted to the High Court forthwith”

In the petition it was stated that khan who is illegally detained in a jail in Mathura under section 3(2) of the NSA Act,1980 is a violation of his right to life and personal liberty and also an abuse of powers by the authorities and the that the orders of Aligarh District be squashed.

The Doctor was arrested on 29^th January 2020 for an alleged proactive speech against the Citizen Amendment Act in December 2019, in Aligarh Muslim University.

Under the National Security Act, a person can be detained up to 12 months if according to the authorities and convinced that the person is a threat to National Security.

The Uttar Pradesh government had already extended the detention till 13^th November 2020.

The  Allahabad High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal,  acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, adjourned the hearing till 24^th August 2020 granting time to the petitioner to file a reply affidavit submitted by the State government.

( By Andrea Dsilva)