Srinagar: In a significant development, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has been granted permission to deliver the Friday sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid after being barred for four consecutive weeks. The decision comes in the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Valley following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed at least 26 lives, most of them tourists from other Indian states.

Mirwaiz’s office confirmed the development in a post on X, stating that authorities had verbally informed them about the permission to attend Friday prayers at the Nowhatta mosque. He had previously been restricted to his residence, with security agencies preventing his weekly religious engagement without formal written orders.

The recent attack in Pahalgam, where gunmen reportedly targeted non-Muslim civilians, has triggered widespread outrage across the country. In its aftermath, Kashmiri students and civilians in states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have allegedly faced assaults and intimidation, further escalating the communal tension.

Reacting to the development, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the move as “deeply needed,” particularly in light of the grief and anxiety gripping Kashmir after the attack. “The people of Kashmir are seeking solace. Let us raise our hands together as one community to pray for the souls of the departed, for strength to their families, and for lasting peace,” Mufti posted on X.

Since the reading down of Article 370 in August 2019, Mirwaiz had largely remained under house arrest, with limited public appearances. Although he has been allowed to attend social and religious events with increasing frequency in recent months, the continued restriction on his mosque visits had drawn criticism from civil society and human rights groups.

Mirwaiz has consistently described the curbs on his movement as a violation of his constitutional and religious freedoms. His return to the pulpit today is being seen not only as a religious gesture but also as a symbolic moment amid a climate of fear and political uncertainty.

Mirwaiz, whose father was assassinated during the early years of the Kashmir insurgency, has played a pivotal role in dialogue initiatives, including participation in Track-II diplomacy efforts involving India, Pakistan, and other stakeholders during the first NDA government led by the BJP.

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New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued contempt notices to a litigant and his lawyers for making "scurrilous allegations" against a sitting judge of the Telangana High Court in their plea.

The top court, while issuing the show cause notices to the petitioner and his lawyers, refused to allow withdrawal of the petition, and said, “We cannot permit judges to be out in a box and allow any litigant to make such allegations against a judge. Here we were trying to protect lawyers.”

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a transfer plea filed by petitioner N Peddi Raju filed through advocate-on-record Ritesh Patil.

The petition involved a case in which Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had received relief from a high court in a matter under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

“Here we were trying to protect lawyers, but this kind of conduct cannot be condoned,” the bench, which earlier heard another suo motu case pertaining to summoning of lawyers by the ED for rendering legal advice, said.

“Scurrilous allegations have been made against the sitting judge of Telangana High Court. It has been held (in a judgement) that it is not only a litigant but also a lawyer who signs (the petition) is guilty of contempt of court.

“We thus issue notice to Peddi Raju as well as the lawyers … and the AoR. They are directed to state why contempt should not be initiated against them. Notice returnable on August 11,” the CJI said.

A counsel sought the liberty to withdraw the remarks after the court expressed strong displeasure. However, the bench dismissed the request.

“File apology …we will see whether to consider or not. We will see the apology is genuine or not. When we expressed displeasure at the language, liberty was sought to withdraw. We dismissed the request,” the bench said.

The case stems from the Telangana High Court's decision to quash a criminal case registered against the chief minister under the SC/ST Act.

The petitioner later approached the top court with a transfer plea, alleging bias and impropriety on the part of the high court judge.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared on behalf of the chief minister.