NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday permitted former J&K chief minister and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha
Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit
Srinagar,
Anantnag,
Baramulla and Jammu districts after he undertook not to carry out any political activity.
Appearing for Azad before a bench of Chief Justice
Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer, advocate and Congress leader A M Singhvi said Azad had made three attempts to enter the state since August 5 when the government decided to abrogate J&K’s special status.
Singhvi said Azad wanted to talk to people to assess the impact of the decision. “I want to talk to daily wagers in various sectors who are impacted the most by the decision. I will not indulge in political activity or hold rallies,” Azad promised through Singhvi.
“We permit the petitioner to go to Srinagar and visit the following districts, subject to restrictions, if any: Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla and Jammu. The petitioner has undertaken before the court of his own volition that he will not indulge in any political rally or political activity during his visit. The visit will solely be concerned with making an assessment of the impact of the present situation on the life of daily wage earners, if any,” the bench said.
The bench also sought responses of the Centre and the state government in two weeks to Azad’s petition questioning the legality of abrogation of J&K’s special status.