Sedition case: HC issues notice to Delhi govt on JNU student Sharjeel Imam's plea challenging charges framed in anti-CAA speeches case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Delhi government after hearing a petition filed by JNU student Sharjeel Imam, challenging a trial court order which had framed charges against him in a case relating to alleged inflammatory speeches by him against the CAA and NRC.

A two-judge Bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul and comprising Justice A K Mendiratta sought a detailed response from the Delhi government on the Jawaharlal Nehru University student's petition.

"We issue notice on the petition," the judges said and fixed the matter for further hearing on May 26.

"This court gives the State two weeks time to place all the relevant documents on record in the matter before it," the bench said.

Ahmad Ibrahim, lawyer for Sharjeel Imam, said the trial court had completely failed to appreciate that in the absence of any incitement to violence or call for violence, no speeches could be attributed any criminality under sections 124-A and 13 of the UAPA (Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act).

Sharjeel Imam had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the framing of charges against him in a case related to an allegedly inflammatory speech he delivered at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Milia Islamia in Delhi during protests against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Sharjeel Imam has moved the Delhi High Court against a trial court order which had framed charges against him in a case relating to the alleged inflammatory speeches.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat had on January 24, 2022 framed charges against Sharjeel Imam under Sections 124-A (Sedition), 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with Section 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities) of the UAPA. (UNI)