Jammu, April 27, 2026 : In a significant legal development, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the Public Safety Act (PSA) imposed on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Mehraj Malik.
Malik, who serves as the president of AAP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, had been detained under the stringent PSA on September 8, 2025, over allegations of disturbing public order. He was subsequently lodged in Kathua jail.
Challenging his detention, Malik filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court on September 24, seeking not only relief from detention but also ₹5 crore in compensation.
After reserving its verdict on February 23, the court delivered its judgment on Monday, setting aside the PSA. The decision marks a crucial moment in the case and underscores judicial scrutiny over preventive detention laws.
AAP spokesperson Appu Singh Slathia, who was also part of Malik’s legal team, welcomed the verdict, stating that it reinforces faith in the judiciary.
This ruling is likely to have broader political and legal implications in Jammu and Kashmir, especially concerning the use of preventive detention laws.
