J&K HC Defers Shopian Hearing
Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday deferred hearing in the Shopian rape and murder case for a week, after the bar association objected to the state’s request to have the matter investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The division bench comprising of Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir heard the public interest litigation filed before it by the local bar association.
In an application filed before the bench on Wednesday the state government stated that it was ready to have the case investigated by the CBI, provided the move was approved by the high court.
Though, the court observed that handing over investigations to any agency deemed fit was a prerogative of the state government, local bar association president Mian Qayoom, told the court that the bar had serious reservations against the transfer of case investigations to the central agency.
Deferring the hearing till Wednesday next, the court asked the bar association to file objections to the state government application seeking the transfer of case investigations to CBI.
The court further asked the Shopian Mashawarat Committee to present its observations on the state government’s request to the court in a sealed cover.
Informing the state assembly of the developments in the case, the state government had said that it was willing to transfer case investigations to the CBI following relevant approvals from the high court.
The rape and murder of Nilofar Jan (22) and her sister-in-law Asiya Jan (17) in Shopian town on May 30 triggered widespread protests in the valley.
