JAMMU: With the vehement criticism of the Government by the former High Court Judge Syed Mustafa Rizvi, soon after his retirement, Kashmir watchers here feel that the stand taken by the Governor Gen (Retd) K.V. Krishna Rao that the judiciary was working at cross purposes with the Government, during the silver jubilee celebrations of Jammu University on June 10, stood vindicated.
Justice Rizvi, who retired after 32 years of judicial service, said, “The Government of India has no faith in its own constitution,” adding, “the people languishing behind bars for alleged involvement in militancy are in illegal confinement.”
Vindicating his own position the Judge said “I was accused of being liberal to the people which not a fact is adding hurriedly, that his mission had been to “give touch to the needy and the oppressed.”
While accusing the Government of bias towards him he said, “I was very liberal in granting bail as I was convinced that the people arrested were innocent.”
Justice Rizvi said when I was transferred to Karnataka High Court, it sparked off massive protests across the valley, the courts were paralyzed for a week, and Kashmir observed a day’s strike.”
He claimed that he had refused the post of Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh as “I had to serve my suffering community.”
Speaking at the farewell party organized by Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) he said, “the role of the three successive Chief Justices (from outside the State) was discriminatory towards the people of Kashmir.”
The function was not attended by Justice V.K.Gupta who, interestingly, was not invited by the KBA, According to Press reports, those who spoke ‘on the occasion belonged to a particular community.
Justice Rizvi admitted that corruption was rampant in the state and advised the judicial employees to give up such practices. Political observers here read much in his Press interview and speeches. They feel that the KBA had always pleaded the case of human rights violations of Kashmiri Muslims and never condemned the inhuman atrocities committed by the militants on Hindus. The observers see similarities of Purpose in the activities of Justice Baha UDin Faroqui and Justice Rizvi who also after retirement took up the cause of the militants and their sympathizers. The observers also wondered at the utterances of All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani on June 30 where he accused the Government of letting loose a “reign of terror and horror” against the Muslims.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 7, 1995
