Justice Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court criticized authorities for ignoring illegal public installations, asserting they cannot be justified as religious practices. He condemned both political and religious entities for bypassing laws and instructed local government secretaries to enforce fines, emphasizing accountability and the need for clarity in public spaces.
Today, the Delhi High Court addressed Sharjeel Imam’s bail plea in a case involving charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sedition over his inflammatory speeches. The court has sought a response from the Delhi Police within two weeks and scheduled another hearing for April. Imam’s speeches at Aligarh Muslim University and in Delhi were perceived to instigate opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Despite arguing that he should be granted statutory bail, the trial court refused Imam’s plea, emphasizing the disruptive impact of his speeches on the 2020 riots in the national capital. He faces severe charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the UAPA. The statutory bail in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) allows for a maximum detention of 90 days, which can be extended to 180 days in terror-related cases under the UAPA. If the investigation is not complete at the end of this period, the court can release the person on default bail.