Srinagar, April 01, 2019 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the High Court Bar Association has criticised Principal District and Sessions Judge Srinagar for disallowing the seminar saying the Judge has not written the letter of his own but under pressure from the authorities.
The Bar Association in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “As per the decision of the executive committee of Bar Association, a general body meeting of the members was held in Srinagar to discuss the impact of the letter issued by Principal District Judge, Srinagar to the President of the Bar Association informing him that the proposed seminar would not be permitted inside the District Courts Complex under the law.”
“The members criticised the move and said the democratic societies are supposed to act under rule of law, but in our case the democracy here is meaningless,” the statement added. Mian Abbul Qayoom, President of the Bar Association, said: “By not allowing the Bar Association to hold the seminar, which was supposed to be a gathering of a learned, educated and intelligent people, the authorities have once again resorted to the worst kind of repression.”
“Judges are supposed to be the guardians of right to life and liberty and they are bound to safeguarding of right to speech and expression – but the letter of District Judge has shown that even judges are not prepared to tolerate any word of wisdom and they will continue to repress those who stand against subjugation,” he said, adding, “District Judge has not written the letter of his own and that he must have been under pressure not to permit the Bar Association to hold the seminar and by issuing the letter, he has only obliged the authorities which is highly deplorable.” The seminar was scheduled to memorize renowned lawyer and human rights activist Jalil Andrabi who was killed in custody of the Indian army.
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