New Delhi, Dec 17: National Conference MPs in the Rajya Sabha have submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister requesting the transfer of Jammu and Kashmir prisoners currently held in other states back to prisons within the Union Territory. They also called for the release of detainees against whom charges have not been proven.
Highlighting humanitarian concerns, MPs Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, and Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan noted that thousands of families in J&K continue to face hardship because their relatives are incarcerated far from home. “In several cases, detainees continue to remain incarcerated despite serious charges not having been proven,” the memorandum stated. Many families struggle to afford travel or legal representation, and some are unable to visit their loved ones even once.
The MPs also urged the restoration of J&K’s statehood, citing assurances from the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that full statehood would be reinstated. They referenced the Supreme Court’s December 11, 2023 judgment on Article 370 and the reorganization of J&K, which confirmed that statehood would be restored as soon as possible, alongside the completion of democratic processes such as elections.
The memorandum said the delay in restoring statehood is causing democratic, administrative, and emotional distress, amounting to a denial of constitutional dignity. The MPs called for clear, time-bound steps for its early restoration and also requested the notification of the Business Rules to ensure smooth and transparent governance in the Union Territory.
