Ban on shifting PSA detainees from IOK to jails in India lifted

In occupied Kashmir, in yet another move against the Kashmiri political detainees, Delhi-run Governor Rule has removed a legal provision that prohibited the shifting and lodging of Kashmiri residents detained under draconian law, Public Safety Act, in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir.

The State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor NN Vohra has cleared the proposal to delete the provision in the black law PSA to make way for sending the Kashmiri political detainees to prisons in India far away from their families.

In its 3rd meeting held on July 11, the SAC recommended deletion of the proviso to Section 10 of the PSA, described by rights watchdog Amnesty International as a revolving door “lawless law”.

“Provided that the detenues who are permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir shall not be lodged in jails outside the state,” reads the proviso which was deleted by the SAC.

The amendment has come into force from July 13 after receiving assent from the Governor.

The PSA is a law that allows detention without trial for a period minimum of three months which can be further extended to six months and one year subsequently.

In the past 26 years, thousands of civilians and youth have been incarcerated under the draconian PSA. During the 2016 uprising, the previous PDP-BJP administration booked more than 500 protesters and resistance activists under the black law.