Rashid, who is currently in jail as an undertrial in a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), was granted permission to attend Parliament but was asked to bear the travel expenses.
NEW DELHI: Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, has moved the Delhi High Court against the Central government’s demand of Rs.1.4 lakh per day for his travel from Tihar Jail to Parliament.
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Rashid, who is currently in jail as an undertrial in a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), was granted permission to attend Parliament but was asked to bear the travel expenses.
The Delhi High Court had allowed Rashid to attend Parliament on March 26, 2024, under certain conditions, including the payment of his travel expenses. However, the court had not specified a fixed amount.
Rashid has now approached the court again, requesting the removal of this condition, as the government has asked him to pay Rs. 1.4 lakh per day for the commute.
The issue was brought before a bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.
Rashid’s lawyer argued in court, stating: “I was told yesterday (by the government) that I am required to pay Rs.1.4 lakhs per day to attend the parliament session. He is attending the session subject to the payment of travel expenses.”
In response, the bench asked “Will Court determine the amount borne by the government? Can this issue be dealt with in your appeal?”
Rashid’s counsel clarified that he was not seeking a reduction in cost but the complete removal of the condition, saying:
“I am not seeking reduction of the expense but for deletion of the condition. Twice I was allowed to attend without any such condition.”
The judges then asked: “It is a conditional order, you want variation of that?”
The counsel emphasized that Rashid’s constituency, Baramulla, would go unrepresented in Parliament if he was unable to pay the hefty travel cost.
He stated “Last time the people of the constituency had done crowd funding. Today I am attending, tomorrow I will not have money. Baramulla will go unrepresented. So I may not be allowed to attend the session. He is the parliamentarian who has to represent the people.”
After hearing the arguments, the court said that the plea would be automatically listed for hearing the next day.
Background of the Case
Engineer Rashid was arrested in 2019 in a terror funding case under UAPA. Despite being in jail, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla and won by a massive margin, defeating Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes.
Following his victory, Rashid approached the Delhi High Court, seeking permission to attend Parliament. On March 26, the court allowed him to do so but added the condition that he must cover the cost of travel.
The court had stated “The expense for the aforesaid travel and other arrangements shall be borne by the appellant.”
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