Speaker Clarifies Assembly Not Consulted on MLA Mehraj’s PSA Detention

Srinagar, Sept 9: The Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, clarified on Tuesday that the government neither sought his approval nor consulted the Assembly Secretariat before detaining Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).

Explaining the Assembly’s role, Rather said his responsibility was limited to being informed of such actions as per established procedures.

“The rules governing the House clearly state that the Speaker’s role is only to communicate such developments to members. In this case, I was informed about Mehraj’s detention and relayed the information to the legislators. There was no consultation, nor was my approval required for the order issued by the District Commissioner,” he explained.

The Speaker further emphasized that the legality of the arrest and detention rests entirely with the judiciary. “It is for the courts to determine whether any procedural lapse or wrongdoing has occurred. The Assembly’s role does not extend beyond being apprised of the situation,” he added.

The arrest of Malik, a sitting MLA from Doda district, has triggered political debates across the region. Several political parties have condemned the move, calling it an affront to democratic norms and warning that such actions set a troubling precedent that could undermine the rights and representation of elected officials.

Malik’s detention under the PSA—an act allowing preventive detention without trial for up to two years—has drawn particular attention due to its rare application against a sitting legislator.

Rather reiterated that the Assembly Secretariat had no role in the decision, stressing that any allegations or concerns must be addressed through the proper judicial process.