Top officials of the federal Home Ministry on November 15 conveyed to a Parliamentary Panel that Jammu and Kashmir is getting back to normalcy, schools are open, the apple trade is going on and the detained political leaders will be released soon. The top officials, however, gave no time-frame for the release of the political leaders. The officials briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on the situation in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The committee was chaired by senior Congress leader Anand Sharma.

Many political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir -- including former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- are under precautionary detention post the abrogation of Article 370 from the former state.

The Home Ministry officials, comprising federal Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Additional Secretary Gyanesh Kumar, told the committee that those detained under the PSA can challenge their detention in a designated tribunal. If not satisfied with the order of the tribunal, they can move the High Court. The officials also told the committee that some political leaders had been released and others will be freed soon.