The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recently sought the Jammu and Kashmir administration's response to a plea challenging the preventive detention of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mehraj Din Malik [Mehraj Din Malik vs UT of J&K].
Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul on September 24 issued notice in the matter.
Mehraj Din Malik, a sitting MLA, was recently placed under preventive detention by the authorities on September 8, 2025, citing concerns about public order.
He has now moved a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention.
During the September 24 hearing of the matter, the Court also made a critical note that some of Malik's counsel have been seen actively engaging with the press to comment on Malik’s detention, instead of focusing on challenging such detention in court.
The oral observation was made after an assisting counsel part of Malik's legal team urged the Court for a short adjournment so that the plea may be heard at an earlier date.
The Court rejected the request and added,
"An advocate who delivers lectures in media is not an advocate."
The Court will hear the matter next on October 14.
Senior Advocate Rahul Pant appeared for Mehraj Malik, along with Advocates SS Ahmed, Apu Singh Slathia, Zulkarnain Chowdhary and Joginder Singh Thakur.
Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli appeared for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and other authorities.
[Read Order]