Delhi High Court Dismisses Sharjeel Imam’s Plea for Early Bail Hearing
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed Sharjeel Imam’s request for an early hearing on his bail plea, which is scheduled for October 7. Imam, who has been in custody since January 28, 2020, is accused in the larger conspiracy of the 2020 Delhi Riots.
The division bench, led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, stated that there is no need to reschedule the hearing. Imam’s lawyers, Talib Mustafa and Ahmad Ibrahim, argued that his bail plea has been pending for 28 months and has faced numerous delays due to changes in the court’s composition.
The plea highlighted that the appeal has been listed for hearing at least 62 times before seven different division benches. Frequent changes in the bench composition have led to repeated cycles of hearings. The last substantial hearing took place on March 19, 2024, but was not concluded due to time constraints.
Imam’s lawyers also mentioned that the Supreme Court has issued guidelines for expeditious handling of bail applications, typically within 2-4 weeks. They argued that Imam’s prolonged incarceration has hindered his education. At the time of his arrest, Imam was a Ph.D. student in Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big court in Delhi, India, where important legal cases are decided.
Sharjeel Imam -: Sharjeel Imam is a person who was studying for a Ph.D. and is now in jail because he is accused of being involved in the 2020 Delhi Riots.
Bail -: Bail is when someone who is in jail asks the court to let them go home while they wait for their trial.
2020 Delhi Riots -: The 2020 Delhi Riots were violent events that happened in Delhi, where many people got hurt and properties were damaged.
Custody -: Custody means being kept in jail or under the control of the police.
Incarceration -: Incarceration means being put in jail or prison.
Ph.D. student -: A Ph.D. student is someone who is studying a lot to become an expert in a subject and get the highest degree in education.
