Srinagar, Oct 7: The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) has urged the J&K High Court to dismiss an application by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra seeking permission to travel outside the Union Territory. Parra is currently on bail in a terror-related case registered against him in 2020.
Through its counsel and Additional Advocate General Mohsin S Qadri, the SIA described Parra’s plea as “baseless and meritless,” citing his involvement in “serious and heinous” offences. The agency argued that allowing travel without trial court permission would undermine the court’s supervisory powers and hinder speedy trial proceedings.
Parra, released on bail in May 2022, recently applied to the High Court to visit places outside J&K. The SIA contended that being on bail does not automatically entitle a person to travel beyond the UT. “Being on bail and applying to leave the territorial limits of UT are two different matters,” the counsel said, emphasizing the stakes of public interest and national security.
The agency also accused Parra of misleading the court. His counsel noted that Parra had filed an earlier, similar petition in 2023, which remains pending, and alleged that he had “suppressed material facts” in his current application. The SIA argued that the application could even be viewed as contemptuous for abusing the court process.
The SIA stressed that the condition requiring prior permission for travel was a crucial part of the bail conditions, reflecting the gravity of the offences. Granting the request, it said, would effectively delete the bail condition and weaken other obligations, including appearing before the investigating officer and attending all trial hearings.
“The applicant enjoys the rights of any citizen but cannot demand special treatment,” the counsel added. He noted that prior permissions had been granted within a time framework and that the condition was not “harsh.” Allowing the application, the SIA argued, could set a precedent, encouraging other similarly placed accused to bypass trial procedures and disrupt the course of justice. The High Court is yet to decide on Parra’s request.
