JNU Sedition case: Court asks Delhi Govt to give definite time frame for sanction

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at the Patiala House Court today directed the Delhi Government to submit a report stating a definite time frame within which a decision on sanction in the JNU sedition case will be arrived at..The direction was given by CMM Deepak Sherawat after the Public Prosecutor informed the Court that the decision on sanction was still pending consideration with the Delhi Government’s Home Department..“More time is sought. It may take another month”, the Public Prosecutor said..The Court then asked the Delhi Government to provide it with a definite time frame, instead of giving vague deadlines..DCP (Special Cell) of the Delhi Police Pramod Kushwaha had earlier informed the Court that the request for sanction was in the domain of the Delhi Government and that the role of Delhi Police was over..The chargesheet in the case was filed by the Delhi Police more than two months ago, on January 14..Apart from former JNUSU President 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)..Judge Sherawat 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 as well as Bhattacharya in the case..The case is likely to be taken up later this week.