After bail bid fails, Sharjeel Imam seeks prison access to finish doctoral research

New Delhi: UAPA-accused undertrial Sharjeel Imam has moved a Delhi court seeking access to academic research material and supervised computer facilities inside jail so he can complete his PhD thesis, arguing that continued incarceration has interrupted his studies.

In a petition filed through his counsel before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at Karkardooma Courts, Imam asked for permission to receive a pen drive containing research material from his lawyers within prison premises and for supervised use of prison computer services to work on his doctoral research. The plea states the material is neither banned nor restricted by the Government of India.

The application notes that in April the court had directed the then Superintendent of Prisons to consider a similar request. Permission was reportedly granted by that Superintendent, but he was transferred before the material could be handed over. The newly appointed Superintendent refused the transfer, saying Imam required an explicit court order to access the material and computer systems.

Imam enrolled for a PhD in Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University before his arrest in January 2020. He has remained in custody on UAPA charges linked to an alleged conspiracy case, although he has been granted bail in some other matters arising from speeches during the anti CAA protests.

The petition was filed days after the same court rejected fresh bail applications by Imam and co accused Umar Khalid. Prison and court authorities are yet to rule on the request for access to research material.