Delhi Riots accused Ishrat Jahan seeks to practice law beyond capital; Delhi court modifies bail condition

A Delhi court on Friday allowed a plea filed by former Congress councillor and lawyer Ishrat Jahan, an accused in the Delhi Riots case, to allow her to practice law outside the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi [Ishrat Jhan v. State]..Jahan was granted bail on March 14, 2022, on the condition that she shall not leave the jurisdiction of NCR without prior permission of the court.She moved a plea before Special Judge Sameer Bajpai stating that the condition restricted her from practicing outside the jurisdiction of NCT of Delhi. .Her lawyer submitted that Jahan, a practicing advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi, was keen on taking her law practice beyond NCR. It was contended that Jahan had not breached any of the bail conditions and that she always complied with the orders of the court. The special prosecutor opposed the plea, arguing that Jahan already had reasonable liberty and considering her prior conduct, she should not be granted any further relief. .“Considering the fact that since the grant of bail the investigating agency or the prosecution has not brought any fact to the notice of the court that the applicant has breached any condition of bail, the Court deems it just and appropriate to modify the condition as prayed by the applicant,” the court observed.The court, therefore, modified the bail condition to state that, “applicant shall neither leave the territory of India without prior permission of the Court nor shall indulge in any kind of criminal activity”..Advocates Aadil Singh Boparai and Srishti Khanna represented Jahan.Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad and Advocates Chanya Jaitley and Ninaz Baldawala appeared for the State..Jahan was arrested in March 2020 in connection with a Delhi Riots case for the alleged commission of offences under the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). She had subsequently filed a bail application before the Special Court..[Read Order]