| Re-assess threat to Congress leader whose security was withdrawn, HC asks govt | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 3: The High Court has asked government to re-assess the threat perception faced by Congress district president for Shopian.
On April 2, the government ordered withdrawal of security cover to Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, the Congress's district president Shopian, and several other politicians besides those belonging on Hurriyat Conference and like-minded people. In his petition filed before the court, Bhat had submitted that he was provided security cover under Category 'X-2' for last seven years.
However, April 2, state's home department withdrew his security cover "notwithstanding the fact that such an act on their part would make his life susceptible." Bhat's counsel stated that neither any notice nor was an opportunity of being heard was afforded to Bhat before passing order and that too without taking note of the fact he is under constant threat owing to his allegiance to mainstream politics, more particularly during campaigning of Parliamentary Elections.
A bench of Justice Tashi Rabstan said that "there is a meat in the case projected by petitioner (Bhat) in writ petition on hand, particularly given his political affiliation." Having said so, the court said, the government was required to give a "fresh look to order in so far as it relates to petitioner (Bhat) and re-assess the threat perception that is and/or may be faced by him and accordingly, provide him the security cover." |
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