NEW DELHI, May 22 :
The Supreme Court on Friday referred crucial legal questions concerning grant of bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case of activist Umar Khalid to a larger Bench, amid differing interpretations of earlier judgments related to prolonged incarceration and bail principles.
A Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice P. B. Varale decided to place the matter before a larger Bench to examine important legal issues surrounding bail in UAPA cases and the applicability of previous rulings, including the landmark K.A. Najeeb judgment.
The development came during hearings linked to the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy cases, where the apex court also granted interim bail to certain accused persons in connected matters. Reports said the court refrained from making direct observations on earlier verdicts concerning Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam while referring the issue for authoritative consideration by a larger Bench.
The matter has gained significance as recent Supreme Court hearings witnessed strong observations reiterating that “bail is the rule and jail is the exception,” even in stringent UAPA cases involving prolonged detention and delayed trials.(KNC)