by MD IMRAN RAZA
On March 17, 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the detention of Advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga, a prominent Kashmiri lawyer and former president of the J&K High Court Bar Association, under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The court ruled that his detention, which had been imposed on July 11, 2024, on allegations of separatist activities, was unjustified and violated due process. Ronga’s detention had sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that it was part of a broader crackdown on legal professionals and activists in the region.
Advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on July 10, 2024, with authorities accusing him of being linked to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC-M) and engaging in activities that threatened the security of the state. The detention order cited his past involvement in separatist movements in 1999, 2008, and 2010 but did not provide any fresh evidence of unlawful activities. The PSA dossier labeled him a “threat” based on his previous political affiliations rather than any recent actions. His family and supporters argue that the detention is unfair and aimed at suppressing his work as a lawyer and activist.
Ronga’s legal team has strongly opposed the detention, calling it a copy-paste job from a police dossier without any new justification. They pointed out that his previous PSA detention was revoked in 2019 and that there has been no evidence against him since. His son claimed that the real motive behind the detention was to silence his father’s legal activism and human rights work.
While talking to The Obsever Post, Umair Ronga, the son of Advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga, shared the emotional and legal challenges his family faced during this period. “My own circumstances kept me stationed in Delhi, as my family insisted that I stay away from Kashmir for a while, fearing my possible arrest as well. Being away from home during such a difficult time was emotionally exhausting,” Umair said.
He also discussed the lengthy eight-month legal battle, saying, “There were no procedural hurdles, as Mr. Ronga was represented by a Senior Advocate from the Supreme Court of India. However, before his involvement, I could not proceed with the court hearings due to an atmosphere of apprehension among lawyers at the High Court.”
When asked about the nature of the allegations, Umair explained that his father was accused of advising Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is the chairman of Hurriyat (M), but said, “ The Primary allegation was that Nazir Ahmad Ronga served as an advisor to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is linked to Hurriyat (M). However, Ronga was never a Hurriyat member; he only provided legal counsel, a professional duty like any lawyer. Moreover, Mirwaiz is also a religious leader, not just a political figure, and has longstanding ties with many families, including Ronga’s. The court found no evidence that legal representation equated to unlawful activity, making the allegations baseless.”
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the 14th Mirwaiz of Kashmir, is a prominent Islamic cleric and political leader in Jammu and Kashmir. Holding a hereditary title, he assumed the role at 17 following the assassination of his father, Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq. Born on March 23, 1973, he serves as the chairman of the Awami Action Committee and is a key figure in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which advocates for Kashmiri self-determination. As a spiritual leader, he delivers sermons at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid, while politically, he has sought to highlight the Kashmir issue on international platforms. His leadership has often been met with controversy, including house arrests and allegations of supporting separatist activities.
“Another allegation suggested that we were aiding Advocate Mian Qayoom, which is entirely baseless. In reality, we have contested elections against Qayoom Sahib since 2008. During those elections, some groups labeled us as ‘Indian agents’ further illustrating the contradictions in these claims.”
He further rejected claims about Ronga visiting jails to meet “terrorists” and said, “These accusations are completely unfounded. My father never visited any jail for such purposes.”
Umair also highlighted that the case was based on “false information”, adding, “The Hon’ble High Court rightly found no legal justification for the detention, citing a lack of application of mind and reliance on vague, unsubstantiated allegations.”
The PSA has been widely criticized for allowing authorities to detain individuals without formal charges or trial. According to official data, 408 people were detained under PSA in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 alone. Since 2018, a total of 1,122 individuals have been arrested under this law and sent to prisons outside the region.
