J&K&L High Court Dismisses Mehbooba Mufti’s PIL on Repatriation of Undertrial Prisoners

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has dismissed a PIL filed by Mehbooba Mufti seeking repatriation of undertrial prisoners lodged outside the UT, holding the plea to be politically motivated.

The Court observed that PIL jurisdiction cannot be invoked to gain political mileage or as a forum for electoral positioning.

It noted that the petition lacked specific facts, identification of affected prisoners, or a challenge to any particular transfer orders.

Holding that Mufti lacked locus standi, the Bench clarified that decisions on transfer of undertrials are case-specific and cannot be addressed through a blanket direction.

[Mehbooba Mufti v. UOI]