COURTESY HT DEC 18

SC refuses to quash order on Kafeel

Kafeel Khan
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government that sought to overturn an Allahabad high court order releasing medical doctor Kafeel Khan from detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), but observed that the criminal cases against Khan will be decided on merits without being influenced by the observations made in the high court’s judgment.

On September 1, the Allahabad high court put an end to the continued detention of Khan since January 29 over a speech given last December at the Aligarh Muslim University on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA. Kafeel Khan thanked the court and said that he will continue to raise his voice against injustice done to anyone, anywhere.

The state accused him of disturbing public order and creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the residents of Aligarh.

He got bail in the case on February 10, but before his release, the charge under NSA was added against him and on February 13, and the District Magistrate ordered his preventive detention under the National Security Act. P6

Abraham Thomas

letters@hindustantimes.com

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government that sought to overturn a Allahabad high court order releasing Dr Kafeel Khan from detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), but observed that the criminal cases against Khan will be decided on merits without being influenced by the observations made in the high court’s judgment.

On September 1, the Allahabad high court put an end to the continued detention of Khan since January 29 over a speech given last December at Aligarh Muslim University on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Kafeel Khan thanked the court and said that he “will continue to raise voice against injustice done to anyone anywhere”.

The state accused him of disturbing public order and creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the residents of Aligarh. He got bail in the case on February 10, but before his release, the charge under NSA was added against him and on February 13, and the District Magistrate ordered his preventive detention under this Act.

Appearing for the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “The high court observations are exonerating him even in the criminal prosecution pending against him. We are only on this limited concern.