Today, On 6th September, A Delhi court has allowed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid to cast his vote in the Vice Presidential election on September 9. Judge Chander Jit approved his request, after earlier granting custody parole for the Parliament session.
New Delhi: A court on Saturday granted permission for Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, representing Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, to cast his vote in the Vice Presidential election scheduled for September 9.
Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit approved Rashid’s request to participate in the voting.
Previously, the court had granted Rashid custody parole from July 24 to August 4 to attend the monsoon session of Parliament.
Earlier, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, the imprisoned MP from Baramulla, commonly referred to as Engineer Rashid, has petitioned a Delhi court for permission to vote in the Vice-Presidential election scheduled for September 9.
Currently detained in Tihar Jail in connection with a terror funding case, Rashid submitted his request to the Special NIA Court at Patiala House. His legal team indicated that the court is expected to rule on the request later today.
According to media, election regulations require MPs to vote in person for the Vice-President, meaning Rashid’s participation is contingent upon the court’s approval.
The NIA first filed charges against Rashid in October 2019.
In March 2022, a Special NIA Court formally charged him and several others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the Government of India), and 124A (sedition).
He also faces allegations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) pertaining to terrorism and terror financing.
Engineer Rashid, a newly elected Lok Sabha MP, has been in jail since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Earlier, Engineer Rashid had approached the court seeking interim bail or custody parole to allow him to attend the parliamentary session and discharge his responsibilities as an elected lawmaker.
As per procedure, custody parole means that the prisoner is taken under armed police escort to the required location and then brought back to jail.
His lawyer requested the court that he be released on interim bail, or, if not possible, that he be given custody parole without paying any travel cost.
The charges against him include that he allegedly funded separatist activities and terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.