The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Monday annulled the preventive detention of senior advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga, a former president of the J&K High Court Bar Association, who was held under the Public Safety Act (PSA) last year.
Justice Sanjay Dhar, who had reserved the verdict last month, ruled that the allegations against Ronga were vague and lacked substantial evidence. The judgment was issued in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife, Bilquees Ronga.
Ronga was arrested from his Srinagar residence on the night of July 11, 2024, and later moved to Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu. His family was not informed of the PSA charges at the time of his detention, which was later revealed to have been ordered by the Srinagar District Magistrate.
The plea argued that his detention was baseless and politically motivated, damaging his reputation and career. Notably, Ronga was also detained in 2019 under the PSA before the revocation of Article 370.
While Senior Advocate Davendra N Goburdhun led Ronga’s legal team, the Union Territory was represented by Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin Qadiri. [KNT]
