Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar challenges detention under NSA, Supreme Court issues notice to UP

Dalit leader and founder of the Bhim Army, Chandrashekhar Azad has moved the Supreme Court challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

The Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud issued notice to the State of Uttar Pradesh and the District Magistrate of Saharanpur seeking their responses in the case.

Azad was picked up by the Saharanpur Police in June 2017 for his alleged role in the caste-based violence that marred Saharanpur (UP) after clashes broke out between the Dalits and Rajputs during Maharana Pratap Jayanti processions held in May 2017.

FIRs were registered and Chargesheet was filed against Chandrashekhar in five cases in connection with the violence. Azad was granted bail by the trial court as well as Allahabad High Court in these cases but the UP Police then charged him under the provisions of the NSA.

Senior Counsel Colin Gonsalves and advocate Shreeji Bhavsar, representing Azad, told the Supreme Court on Friday that Azad has been kept under detention since November 2017 in the Saharanpur Jail. The detention was later extended for a year.

The Court then proceeded to issue notice to the State of Uttar Pradesh and the District Magistrate of Saharanpur.

Read the order below. 

Image Courtesy: Aaj Tak