Recap: A Delhi court, presided over by Extra Sessions Court Sameer Bajpai, dismissed an interim bail appeal on Tuesday by JNU student protestor Umar Khalid, who looked for bail to look after his ailing mom and attend his uncle’s post-death routines.
Bottom line
- Umar Khalid is scheduled under the Unlawful Tasks (Avoidance) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for presumably being a “mastermind” of the 2020 Delhi riots.
- The 2020 riots in northeast Delhi led to 53 deaths and more than 700 individuals being injured.
- The riots occurred throughout prevalent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of People (NRC).
- The Supreme Court just recently criticised its January 5 judgment refuting bond to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the affirmed bigger conspiracy situation linked to the troubles.
- A Supreme Court bench specified that “bond is the regulation and prison is an exception” even in UAPA prosecutions, referencing Article 21 and presumption of innocence.
What This Indicates
This decision implies Umar Khalid will remain captive while facing costs under UAPA, a regulation frequently criticised for its rigorous bond provisions. The High court’s recent monitorings provide a twinkle of hope that long term apprehension without trial can be a consider giving bond, also under UAPA.
Resource: www.hindustantimes.com
