Delhi Riots: Delhi High Court rejects Shifa ur-Rehman plea for early hearing of bail case

The Delhi High Court recently refused to entertain an application filed by Shifa ur-Rehman for early hearing of his appeal against denial of bail in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the 2020 Delhi riots [Shifa Ur Rehman v. State of NCT].

A Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur observed that since the appeal is coming up for hearing on November 25, an early hearing cannot be granted. 

“Keeping in view the nature of this Board, it is not possible to accede to this request...The appeal is already listed for hearing on 25.11.2024, when an endeavour will be made to hear the same,” the Court ordered.

Rehman’s appeal is tagged with the appeals filed by Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, which are also listed to be heard by the Court on November 25.

Advocates Bilal A Khan and Anshu Kapoor appeared for Rehman.

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad along with Advocates Ruchika Prasad, Ayodhya Prasad and Chanya Jaitly appeared for the State.

Rehman was President of Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI). He was arrested by the Delhi Police in April 2020 and accused of inciting communal violence that followed protests against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).

During his bail hearing before the sessions judge, Rehman's counsel had argued that the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right and that Rehman was a protester and not a rioter.

[Read order]