Srinagar, February 13, KDC: Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone, National Conference Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, and Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari have welcomed the J&K High Court’s ruling that individuals cannot be denied passports due to the involvement of their family members in militancy-related activities.
Terming the verdict a step in the right direction, Mehbooba Mufti, as per Srinagar-based news-gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, said that since 2019, even the fundamental right to travel has been weaponized in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving countless passport applications pending due to CID verification. She criticized the practice of denying passports not only to individuals related to militants but also to journalists, students, and job seekers solely on the basis of negative police reports. “This policy has even been extended to those remotely associated with Jamaat-e-Islami,” she added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Sajad Lone said the ruling sets a powerful precedent for thousands facing similar discrimination. He pointed out that his party had already challenged the misuse of police verification as a tool for “collective punishment” through a petition filed by advocate Syed Sajad Geelani. “Our petition is in the Court, and we will push for a Pan-J&K extension of a similar verdict to aid thousands of victims,” he stated.
Lone further said that their petition specifically calls for the strict implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Validation of Character and Antecedents) Instructions, 1997, along with subsequent amendments in the Government Order of 2021 and the Circular of 2024. He expressed confidence that the judgment would rectify systemic flaws and provide long-overdue relief to the youth of J&K, who have often been subjected to unwarranted restrictions. “If the effect of this judgment is extended across J&K, it will ensure that our youth are not unfairly penalized and that they receive the same opportunities as their peers in the rest of the country,” Lone said.
National Conference Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, also welcomed the ruling, calling it a significant affirmation of individual rights and justice. “Denying a passport to someone based on the actions of their family members is not just unfair but also a violation of fundamental principles of personal liberty. Every citizen must be judged on their own conduct, not held accountable for the past of their relatives,” he said. He added that the ruling reinforces the idea that justice must be rooted in fairness and due process. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for the rights, dignity, and constitutional protections of all,” he stated.
President of the Apni Party, Altaf Bukhari also expressed his satisfaction over the High Court’s remarks. He termed the Court’s observation as a beacon for clearing pending passport applications, particularly those affected by similar reasons.
“After the J&K Hon’ble High Court’s remarks stating that a person cannot be denied a passport because his brother was a militant and his father an OGW, it is hoped that police verifications will be promptly cleared, and the Srinagar Passport Office will expedite the processing of passport applications pending for similar reasons,” Bukhari wrote on his X handle.
He further expressed hope that the Court’s observations would pave the way for issuing passports to youth aspiring for better livelihood opportunities abroad. (KDC)
