J&K cops unveil 'secessionist writers' list

A retired High Court judge and several academicians have been named as "secessionist writers" in a list compiled by the state police's intelligence wing. The department's field units have been tasked to gather information about them.

The list of 20 personalities has been prepared by the Special Branch of the police's Criminal Investigation Department.

Nearly twenty columnists, including a retired High Court judge, three academicians and also a photographer, have been bracketed as "secessionist writers".

Hasnain Masoodi, who retired as a High Court judge in 2016, created flutter in 2015 when he ruled that Article 370 enshrined in the Constitution could not be abrogated, repealed or even amended, and observed that replacing the post of 'Sadar-e-Riyasat' (Head of the State) by the Governor (in 1965) was "not within the amending powers of the state legislature".

Justice Masoodi in his judgment had also called for hoisting the state flag on all government buildings and vehicles to adhere to the mandate and spirit of the J&K Prevention of Insult to State Honour Act 1979.

However, Justice Masoodi pleaded ignorance to the purported list, but vowed to write what he feels is objective. "I do not know what it (the list) is? I will go through it once I know what it is all about. Our opinion on current issues, or other issues, is based on law," he said.

Citing the example of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Justice Masoodi said it is against the federal polity, and its implementation in J&K will impinge on sovereignty. "How can we define sovereignty? It is having tax policy, deciding exemptions and what I should and should not tax. Once it is taken away, there is no sovereignty," he said.

SP Vaid, Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, refused to comment on the issue.

Jammu and Kashmir minister Abdul Haq Khan also pleaded ignorance about the list.