Srinagar, September 12, 2025 : The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Secretariat has issued a show cause notice to Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para for allegedly making “misleading” and “factually incorrect” remarks on social media regarding the Public Safety Act (PSA) detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Din Malik.
The notice, issued under reference No. LA-3657/Legn/2025 dated September 10, 2025, accuses Para of casting aspersions on the impartiality of the Speaker’s office and undermining the dignity of the Assembly as an institution.
This action comes after a communication from Doda District Magistrate Harvinder Singh, IAS, dated September 8, which informed the Assembly Secretariat about Malik’s detention under PSA. In accordance with Rule 260 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, the Secretariat published a bulletin notifying all members of the House about the detention.
Subsequently, MLA Waheed Para posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):
“Shameful surrender. Assembly Secretariat endorsing PSA against an elected MLA is a direct assault on democracy. J&K CM @OmarAbdullah must act, don’t allow the institution of MLA, the last agency of the people, to be silenced. Today it’s Mehraj, tomorrow it could be you.”
The Assembly Secretariat clarified that the bulletin was issued purely as a procedural step and in no way reflected any endorsement of the PSA or any involvement in the decision to detain Malik. The Secretariat explicitly stated it had “no role in the arrest or detention of the Hon’ble Member.”
The show cause notice emphasized that the impartiality of the Speaker’s office is a constitutional mandate and that any public statements implying bias or misconduct could amount to a breach of privilege or contempt of the House.
“The Hon’ble Speaker has taken serious note of the matter and observed that the privileges and freedom of speech granted to Members should not be misused to undermine the sanctity of the Institution,” the notice stated.
MLA Para has been directed to respond within seven days, either in writing or by appearing in person before the Assembly Secretariat. Failure to respond may lead to initiation of breach of privilege and contempt proceedings.
This development comes at a time when tensions over political detentions in Jammu and Kashmir remain high, raising broader questions about democratic processes and individual rights in the Union Territory.
