The Supreme Court of India has asked the high court in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to take a decision, within one week, on a father’s plea to perform last rites of his son who was killed in “Hyderpora encounter” in Srinagar in November last year.
Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Mohammed Latif Magry, submitted before a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala that his client will perform the last rites as per religious beliefs and emphasised that he has the right to perform the last rites.
Grover clarified that he was not pressing on the exhumation of the body of the client’s son. He said his client wants relief regarding performing last rites and compensation. A single judge bench of the high court passed a direction regarding Rs 5 lakh but a division bench stayed it.
Noting that the matter is listed before the high court today (Tuesday), the bench said: “We’ll request the high court to consider your prayer of alternative relief tomorrow or within 1 week… That much faith we have in the system.” The bench, in its order, noted that the counsel for the petitioner wants to perform the last rites as per his religious practices at the graveyard where his son was buried. —KMS
