Srinagar, Mar 18, KDC: Taking strong exception to the conduct of the Srinagar Police, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court summoned top police officials over the alleged forcible removal of a litigant from the court complex.
According to the Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, SP West, SP Security, and SHO Police Station Parimpora appeared in person before the bench after being summoned by the court. The court expressed serious displeasure over the incident, questioning the role of the police in allowing a civilian to intervene in a legal matter.
The bench, presided over by Justice Rahul Bharti, strongly criticized the manner in which the litigant was removed from the judicial complex on March 11. The court noted that the action was not carried out by the investigating police of Police Station Parimpora but by a civilian, allegedly the litigant’s brother.
Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin-ul-Showkat Qadri expressed regret over the incident and assured the court that such lapses would not be repeated. The judge directed SSP Srinagar to ensure better oversight of his subordinates to prevent similar misconduct in the future. The presence of the senior officers was subsequently dispensed with.
The court also flagged deficiencies in security measures at the judicial complex, highlighting the absence of a comprehensive CCTV surveillance system. In response, it directed the Registrar Judicial, Srinagar, to conduct an audit of the existing CCTV infrastructure and submit a report before the next hearing.
In a separate directive, the court ordered the placement of the affected litigant in a Child Welfare Committee Shelter Home in Sanat Nagar until further verification of her age. The court instructed that only her parents be allowed access to her during her stay. Additionally, the SHO of Police Station Parimpora was directed to ensure her production before the court on March 19 under police supervision.
Meanwhile, the court put on hold the investigation related to FIR No. 20/2025 at Police Station Parimpora and restrained the police from arresting the second petitioner in the case.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 19. (KDC)
