Justice Hasnain Masoodi demands release of political prisoners
Releases 1 crore from MPLADs to fight Coronavirus
Anantnag: National Conference (NC) leader and Anantnag Member Parliament, on Sunday said that on one hand Government of India is taking all possible steps to combat the COVID-19 challenge and on the other hand its “insensitivity” to the plight of detenues under “draconian Public Safety Act is deplorable”.
In a statement issued here, Justice Hasnain said that a detenues from Jammu and Kashmir mostly in early twenties and some more than sixty years of age are lodged in Ambedkar Nagar, Lukhnow, Allahabad, Agra, Tihar and other jails, hundreds of miles away from their homes and their kith and kin. “The Corona or Covid 19 crisis adversely affects their basic human rights and rights as detenues. The detenues are held without charge or trial but on a mere suspicion, in most of the cases unfounded and are not denuded of all their at the prison gate,” Justice Hasnain said.
“There are authoritative judicial pronouncements commanding the government to lodge the detenue in a jail nearest to the ordinary place of residence so that the relations visit a detenue after regular intervals and a detenue is not exposed to mental trauma because of absence of social interaction. In case of detenues from Jammu and Kashmir the direction is violated with impunity,” he said.
“The Corona crisis has further compounded the plight of detenues as because of restrictions on traffic and travel, the relations would no more be in position to visit a detenue and a valuable right violated. It is shocking that though the government has directed release of even convicts serving sentence, it is insensitive to plight of detenues held without charge on mere suspicion of endangering peace,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to the statement, Masoodi released Rs 25 lac from MPLADs for each 4 district hospitals of southkashmir for procurement of emergency medical equipment necessary for fighting the COVID-19 Epidemic. “Justice Hasnain Masoodi assured to take up the issue of shortage of ventilators in district hospitals of Anantnag, pulwama,Kulgam & Shopian with administration very soon to enable hospitals of south kashmir cater to needs of patients in case of any eventuality,” reads the statement.
“He assured to release more funds for District hospital Anantnag as it caters health needs of 1.5 million people. Measures are being taken so that masks and sanitizers are kept avialable to public at all health facilities of south kashmir,” it said.
“The Corona Virus has emerged as a threat to humankind as never before. It doesn’t respect geographical or political boundaries, artificially created community, caste or cultural barriers. It is affecting every aspect of activity and every segment of society,” the statement quoted Justice Hasnain as saying.
