SC voices reservation on adjourning Umar Khalid’s bail plea hearing

New Delhi: The Supreme Court voiced reservations on Wednesday about adjourning the hearing of several appeals contesting the constitutionality of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), among them the bail request made by Umar Khalid, a former JNU scholarly and student leader.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal asked a bench led by Justice Bela M. Trivedi to defer the hearing till next week at the opening, speaking on behalf of Khalid.

“We will not grant any adjournment,” Justice Trivedi told the senior counsel.

Sibal explained that he is engaged in another hearing ongoing before a CJI D.Y. Chandrachud-led Constitution Bench and added that Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, who represents the other side, including Delhi Police, was also unavailable.

The bench, also comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal, said that the matter requires a hearing because Khalid -- who is charged under the stringent anti-terror law in the Delhi riots "larger conspiracy" case -- is behind bars.

“The impression goes that the Court is not taking up the matter,” Justice Mithal remarked.

However, after repeated persuasions made by Sibal and other senior advocates, the bench acceded to the request for adjournment and decided to post the entire batch of matters on January 24. The apex court clarified that it will not entertain any request for adjournment on the next date of listing.

Previously in November 2023, the Supreme Court had deferred till the January 10 hearing on Khalid’s special leave petition filed against the denial of bail by the Delhi High Court along with a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the UAPA.

With inputs from IANS