Liberty a priceless gift of God: Supreme Court

In blistering criticism of the Jammu and Kashmir government for keeping a Pakistani in jail for long after his sentence was over, the Supreme Court Wednesday said liberty was a "priceless gift of God" which could not be denied by the state.

"Liberty is the priceless gift of God to the human beings...and the state is the guardian (of that liberty) of those living under it," an apex court bench of Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice Anil Dave said.

The court also issued notice to Dilshad, the state's additional home secretary who had filed an affidavit on the Pakistani's detention, as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against her for making a false statement on oath.

The court also asked Dilshad to be present at the next hearing.