No information from Delhi Govt on sanction to pursue JNU Sedition case, Delhi Police tells Court

The Investigating Officer in the JNU Sedition case today informed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) that the Delhi Police has not received any information from the Home Department, Delhi Government regarding sanction to prosecute former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Student Union President, Kanhaiya Kumar and others..CMM Manish Khurana took on record a report filed by the Home Department stating that it would require one month’s time after receiving the opinion of the Standing Counsel, Law Department, Delhi Government, to decide on the issue of grant of sanction in the matter..The Court then directed the DCP concerned to submit a report on the status of sanction while adjourning the matter to await the decision on sanction..Meanwhile, the Indian Express has reported the Standing Counsel for the Law Department, Delhi Government Rahul Mehra, in his opinion to the Home Department, has decided to turn down the Delhi Police’s request for sanction in the matter..It is reported that Mehra has opined that “being critical of the Government and its policies does not amount to sedition, and a clampdown on unpopular views will throttle democracy in the long run”. .The chargesheet in the case was filed by the Delhi Police on January 14. However, no cognizance could be taken due to absence of sanction from the Delhi Government..Apart from Kanhaiya Kumar, the chargesheet has named students Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, and seven others for allegedly raising “anti-national” slogans at the JNU campus on February 2, 2016..They are booked for commission of offences under Sections 124A,143,147,149,120B and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)..The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had, however, refused to take cognizance on the chargesheet due to absence of legal sanction..The Delhi Police claims to have based its findings on the basis of documentary evidence, CCTV footage, and eye-witness accounts of approximately 90 persons..Kanhaiya was granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court in the matter in March 2016, almost three weeks after being arrested on charges of sedition. Soon after, an Additional Sessions Judge granted interim bail to Khalid and Bhattacharya in the case..The matter will be heard next on September 18.