New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) allowed Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit the region on Monday (September 16). The court also asked Azad to interact with the residents, check their welfare and file a ground report on the present situation in Kashmir. 

The court allowed the former chief minister to visit four districts - Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla, Anantnag. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi told Azad to not indulge in any political rally. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "He [Ghulam Nabi Azad] will not make any speeches or hold any public rally as per his own submissions."

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Ghulam Nabi Azad had on Sunday (September 15) moved the Supreme Court, seeking permission to visit his home state to enquire about the well being of his family members. Azad had earlier tried to visit the state after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status but was sent back from the airport by authorities.

He was accompanied by Congress' Rahul Gandhi, D Raja, Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha, Majeed Memon and other leaders.

On August 28, the Supreme Court allowed CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury to visit Jammu and Kashmir to meet his party colleague and former MLA Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami. The bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed Yechury to meet his colleague and not use the journey for political purposes.