The Supreme Court on Friday said it has received a report from the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court refuting claims of some people that they were unable to access the J&K High Court.
According to the reports, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing child right activists Inakshi Ganguly and Shanta Sinha alleging detention of children in Kashmir, on September 16 had approached the Supreme court that people in the Jammu and Kashmir were not able to approach the high court there.
After hearing the petition, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India had then sought a report from the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir.
The petitioners had earlier claimed that the Srinagar Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had issued orders for only a dozen out of 81 cases on Monday and Tuesday. The petitioners had stated that most of the cases were simply adjourned for a further date without any arguments in the absence of the petitioners or their lawyer.
Reportedly, the petitioners did not turn up to hearing in some of the cases while their lawyers were absent in some cases. In some cases, respondents also did not turn up in court. The situation has been similar since August 5.
In response to that, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had said that he would visit Srinagar, if the need be, to check on the situation at the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The Supreme Court had also sought a report from the J&K High Court Chief Justice on allegations that people were finding it difficult to approach Srinagar Wing of the High Court.
CJI Gogoi had stated that it was “very very serious” if this was the case as was claimed by a lawyer before the bench.
On Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court sent its response through a report. The Supreme Court bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Gogoi, justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer told the counsel appearing for the petitioners that they have received the report from the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court which does not support their statement.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it would entertain the petition regarding alleged detention of children in Kashmir as the plea has raised “substantial issues” regarding minors.
During the hearing on Friday, the Supreme Court also directed the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to file its response before them within a week on the issue of alleged detention of children in Kashmir.