Big Breaking: High Court Allows MLA Meharaj Malik to Cast Vote Through Postal Ballot from Jail Next Hearing on OCTOBER 27
📰 Headline:
High Court Allows Detenue Mehraj Din Malik to Cast Vote via Postal Ballot; Hearing on Assembly Participation Fixed for Oct 27
Sub-headline:
Justice Rajesh Sekhri of the J&K and Ladakh High Court reserves consideration on allowing the detenue’s participation in the J&K Legislative Assembly Session.
News Story:
Jammu, October 18:
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, under the bench of Hon’ble Justice Rajesh Sekhri, heard a petition filed by Mehraj Din Malik, who is currently under preventive detention. The petitioner sought permission to participate in the forthcoming 4th Session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, scheduled from October 23 to October 31, 2025, and to cast his vote in the Rajya Sabha elections (Council of States) slated for October 24, 2025.
The court observed that Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 prohibits any person in prison from voting; however, this restriction does not apply to persons under preventive detention.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi and Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli, appearing for the Union Territory administration, admitted the legal position and informed the court that a postal ballot has already been dispatched to the detenue through the Superintendent of the concerned jail to enable him to vote in the Rajya Sabha elections.
However, the State counsel opposed the petitioner’s plea seeking permission to physically attend and participate in the upcoming J&K Legislative Assembly session.
The court noted that the response from the respondents had been filed, and directed the Registry to scan and place it on record. The matter has been listed for further consideration on October 27, 2025, with instructions to be placed at the top of the list.
Keywords / Tags:
Jammu Kashmir High Court, Mehraj Din Malik, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Preventive Detention, Voting Rights, Representation of People Act, Rajya Sabha Election 2025, Postal Ballot, J&K Legislative Assembly Session, Legal News Jammu
Detenue gets postal ballot to vote in Rajya Sabha polls; High Court to decide on Assembly participation on Oct 27
