Kashmiri journalist files case against officials

Kashmir Watch; Saturday, November 06, 2010

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) has issued notices to State Government, Police and Secretary, Union Home Affairs and Regional Passport Officer (RPO) on a petition filed by Ajaz Ahmad War, a journalist by profession, seeking direction to respondents to issue passport to him.A single bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Hussnain Masoodi today directed the respondents to file objections with two weeks against the petition. 

Mr War, in the petition filed by his lawyer M. Aijaz today, alleged that he has applied for an International passport on February 27, 2008 and deposited Rs 1000. He said after the issuance of the passport was delayed abnormally he made a representation to the Chief Minister who directed the Additional Director General of police, CID, for immediate action as per existing policy and also to intimate the action taken in the matter.

The petition alleged that nothing happened in the matter as a consequence thereof he approached different authorities and also asked for a report under RTI Act.

The petition said that the CID department in its reply to Chief

Minister on January 9, this year alleged that Mr Aijaz was brother of Hilal Ahmad War, Chairman of the Peoples Political Party (PPP) and Jameel Ahmad War, a pro-freedom leader .CID department has written in its reply that Jameel Ahmad War is the close associate of Syed Ali Shah Gilani and Syed Salahuddin which is one of the reasons of the denial of passport to Ajaz Ahmad War.

The department declared him a threat to security and warned that separatists may use his visit for anti national activities.

However, the department said that he himself was not involved in any anti national activities. Finally the Public Information Officer, Police headquarter communicated to the petitioner through a letter that as per the existing guidelines the issuance of passport to the petitioner is denied.

However, the petitioner approached the First Appellate Authority by virtue of a representation that in the light of the norms guidelines issued by the Chief Minister that if a relation of an applicant is involved in any anti-social or anti-national activity and the applicant is not directly involved cannot be denied the passport.

The appellate Authority acceded to the request of the applicant and communicated to IGP, CID, to consider my case for the issue of passport.

However, the IGP CID declined to clear the name of the petitioner for issuance of the passport.

Mr War prayed for direction to concerned authorities for issuance of passport to him.

The notices were accepted by Additional Solicitor General of India on behalf of secretary union home affairs and RPO, Srinagar and Additional Advocate General for state government, IGP, CID and Senior Superintendent of Police headquarters.