Delhi High Court Reviews Sadiya Anwar Shaikh’s Appeal Against UAPA Sentence
The Delhi High Court has asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond to Sadiya Anwar Shaikh’s appeal against her seven-year sentence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Shaikh, along with four others, was convicted for anti-national activities linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), a part of the banned terror organization ISIS.
Shaikh pleaded guilty and was convicted on April 18, 2024. She has been in custody for over four years and is seeking a reduced sentence. The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 11 and has directed the NIA to file a counter affidavit two days before the hearing.
The appeal, filed by advocate Rajat Kumar, challenges the sentence order dated May 6, 2024. The grievance is that another convict, Abdullah Basith, received a sentence for the period already undergone, which was four years. Shaikh argues for a similar reduction in her sentence.
The court has also requested the nominal roll from the concerned Jail Superintendent by the next hearing date. The case will be heard along with appeals from four other convicts.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big court in Delhi, India, where important legal cases are decided.
Sadiya Anwar Shaikh -: Sadiya Anwar Shaikh is a person who was found guilty of doing something against the law and is now asking the court to reduce her punishment.
UAPA -: UAPA stands for Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It is a law in India that is used to prevent and punish activities that are against the country.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) -: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a special police force in India that investigates serious crimes, especially those related to terrorism.
Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) -: Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) is a group that is part of the larger Islamic State organization, known for doing bad things like terrorism.
custody -: Custody means being kept in jail or under the control of the police.
sentence -: A sentence is the punishment given by a court to someone who is found guilty of a crime.
appeal -: An appeal is when someone asks a higher court to change the decision made by a lower court.
hearing -: A hearing is a meeting in a court where the judge listens to the arguments from both sides before making a decision.