Mohammad Aleem Syed, a law graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia has moved to the Supreme Court by filing a writ petition for habeas corpus nature seeking information and access to his parents in Kashmir amid communication breakdown.
While speaking to Newsd advocate Tanwir Siddiqui informed that his client and petitioner – Mohammad Aleem Syed – who is currently doing his apprenticeship in Delhi has “not received any information of his parents and brother since the intervening night of 4th/5th August 2019.”
Syed fears that his parents have been detained in Kashmir as he is unable to reach them by any means or manner.
“It is submitted that there is a complete shutdown od Internet and phone services in Jammu and Kashmir from the eve of the promulgation of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) order, 2019 and consequent passage of the Jammu and Kashmir (reorganization) Bill, 2019,” the synopsis of the petition read.
“As per the available news reports in print, TV as well as social Media the present clampdown is the most draconian in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.”
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The petition submits that “this information blackout and a restriction on movement in Jammu & Kashmir is in violation of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India” and that there is “an undeclared curfew in the Kashmir Valley which seems to be without any legal basis.”
Syed – who has not been able to contact his parents for five days now, fears them of being in detention and “in absence of any concrete information” has left with “rumors of violence and killing in Kashmir Valley”. He further failingly tried to contact his parents through telephone and through the emergency numbers provided by State Administration.
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Aleem Syed further tried contacting the Deputy Commissioner, Additional district divisional commissioner, District technical director seeking information of his parents “but after an intial reply from District Informatics Officer seeking details…the said officer also went incommunicado”.
The writ petition comes the same day when another lawyer moved the Supreme Court challenging the Presidential order that revoked Article 370. Advocate Shakir Shabir’s plea contended that the approval of the state Assembly reflected the will of the people, which was required before effecting such sweeping changes that altered the history and geography of J&K.
