Overview
- Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul issued notices to the Home Department’s Principal Secretary, the Doda District Magistrate and SSP, and the Superintendent of District Jail Kathua, with replies due by October 14.
- Senior AAG Monika Kohli accepted the notices in open court on behalf of the government during the post-admission hearing.
- Malik’s legal team led by senior advocate Rahul Pant asked the court to expedite replies, citing the urgency of an elected representative being unable to perform public duties.
- The MLA was detained under the Public Safety Act on September 8 by the Doda District Magistrate and lodged in Kathua jail, an action reported as the first PSA custody of a sitting J&K legislator.
- The petition challenges the detention on multiple grounds including alleged personal bias by the Doda District Magistrate, seeks Rs 5 crore in compensation, and includes notice to Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh as a private respondent.