Masrat Alam's release was a 'legally correct and an overdue step' by PDP government: MHA officials

NEW DELHI: After criticising the release of Masrat Alam by the J&K government, top MHA officials now say that a close study of the documents shows his release was a “legally correct and an overdue step” by the PDP government as Alam was in “illegal detention” for the past six months.

“We only hope that he does not approach SC against his illegal detention since last September — DM of Jammu will have lot of explaining to do in that case,” a senior MHA official has told ET. The official said the court had passed an order in respect to Alam’s petition in 2012, instructing the J&K government to give him a week’s time to challenge a fresh detention before it comes into effect.

“But his last detention order issued by the Jammu DM on Sep 24, 2014, was never approved by the state. He was, hence, never given a week’s time to challenge it. This appears to be in contempt of the earlier SC order. Alam has so far challenged each of his detentions before the J&K HC.” Another senior MHA official said the “actual blame” and “mishandling” of case in fact lies with the Omar Abdullah government.