Sajad Lone Fights Back: Challenging Police Verification Misuse

Sajad Lone, head of People's Conference, has filed a public interest litigation in the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court against the misuse of police verification processes. The case aims to prevent collective punishment based on family affiliations and ensure that such procedures remain transparent and just.

Sajad Lone, the chief of People's Conference, has initiated a legal battle against what he terms as the 'misuse' of police verification processes in Jammu and Kashmir. On Thursday, Lone filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to combat what he sees as a troubling trend: the use of police verification as a tool for collective punishment against individuals due to their family connections, according to a statement from the party.

Filed through advocate Syed Sajad Geelani, the PIL seeks to halt the penalization of citizens for factors outside their control, like their relatives' actions. The litigation aligns with Lone's commitment to protecting citizens' rights, emphasizing the need for a fair and transparent police verification process. Lone stressed that the current system denies citizens basic rights, complicating access to employment and essential services.

Lone's petition calls for the strict enforcement of existing guidelines under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Instructions, advocating for adherence to the 1997 guidelines, alongside the 2021 and 2024 amendments. These amendments require police verifications to focus solely on an individual's criminal record and are intended to eliminate unnecessary hardships faced by citizens. Citing the Supreme Court's 'Bulldozer Judgment', Lone argues against police verifications rooted in irrelevant factors.

(With inputs from agencies.)