Supreme Court Delays Umar Khalid's Bail Hearing Once More: New Date Revealed

The Supreme Court delayed Umar Khalid's bail plea hearing related to the North-East Delhi riots to January 24. Advocates' scheduling conflicts prompt the adjournment, despite the court's reluctance to further delays. Khalid contests UAPA provisions, seeking bail after previous rejections in lower courts. The case involves multiple accused individuals amid the aftermath of protests against CAA and NRC, resulting in numerous casualties.

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In a recurrent development, the Supreme Court has deferred Umar Khalid's bail plea hearing yet again. Khalid, a former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), sought bail in connection with the northeast Delhi riots of February 2020. The postponement shifts the hearing to January 24.

Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mittal Satish, presiding over the bench, decided to adjourn the session. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Khalid, and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Delhi police, both requested the postponement. Sibal mentioned prior commitments to a Constitution bench hearing, while ASG Raju's unavailability led to the police's plea for adjournment.

Initially reluctant, the bench eventually conceded to the requests after repeated pleas from Sibal and others. They clarified, however, that no further adjournments would be entertained. The bench expressed concern that repeated adjournments might suggest a lack of consideration for the case.

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Sibal contended that certain UAPA provisions related to terrorism and conspiracy were inapplicable. Khalid contested a Delhi High Court decision denying him bail in October 2022. He argued his lack of involvement in the violence and absence of a conspiratorial link to other accused parties.

Opposing Khalid's bail plea, the Delhi police had accused him of criminal conspiracy, rioting, and unlawful assembly. Khalid previously contested the dismissal of his bail application by a trial court in March 2022.

Notably, the case involves several others charged under the UAPA, including Sharjeel Imam, activist Khalid Saifi, JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, Jamia Coordination Committee member Safoora Zargar, former AAP councilor Tahir Hussain, and more. The legal actions stem from violent incidents amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulting in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.