The Supreme Court, citing paucity of time, adjourned the hearing of former JNU scholar and activist Umar Khalid’s bail application in connection with the UAPA case registered against him on Wednesday.
When the top court expressed an inclination to adjourn the hearing, Umar Khalid’s lawyer Kapil Sibal insisted that the matter be heard that day, stating, “I can demonstrate in twenty minutes that there is no case at all.”
However, the bench adjourned the matter and posted it on November 1.
Khalid has been behind bars for over three years, since September 2020, awaiting his trial under the draconian UAPA in north east Delhi violence larger conspiracy case.
A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Dipankar Datta was hearing Khalid’s special leave petition challenging the decision of the Delhi High Court to deny him bail last year.
The hearing has been adjourned six times since notice was issued by the top court in the activist’s plea on May 18.
“He is a young student, PhD holder, three years behind the bars, it is going on,” said senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, Live Law reported.
“There’s no chance of framing charges yet, how long will you keep him there?” Sibal asked.
“This is not a matter that they should oppose like this,” he said. “He has never done any overt act, they have admitted to it. The only thing is there is some conspiracy they are talking about, conspiracy for what? None of the sections apply.” Sibal said.
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi police, said that the delay in the trial proceedings is due to the accused filing interlocutory applications.
