Srinagar, Oct 2 : Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has filed a petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court challenging his “house arrest”. The case has been listed on October 4, said a statement on Wednesday.

A statement issued by Mirwaiz said he had earlier filed a writ petition in the Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh High court which had been listed in November 2024.

“He incessantly has been once again put under illegal and unauthorised detention without any formal orders by the administration even during the pendency of the said writ petition, depriving him of his fundamental rights guaranteed to him including his religious rights as well. He, therefore, was compelled to file another CMP NO.5884/2024 along with an urgency memo,” the statement said.

The statement said that it is expected that the high court will provide the much needed relief to Mirwaiz in view of laws of natural justice and human rights also enshrined in the constitution and he will be set free.

“An appeal is also made to the legal fraternity, political organisation and human rights groups to raise their voice against this blatant violation of the Mirwaiz’s fundamental rights,” the statement said.

Mirwaiz was detained on the eve of abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and released from house detention in September 2023. Mirwaiz claims that he is often put under house arrest without formal orders.

UNI