Delhi High Court Judge Recuses Himself from Umar Khalid’s Bail Plea Hearing

In a significant development, Delhi High Court Judge Amit Sharma on Monday recused himself from hearing former JNU scholar Umar Khalid’s plea seeking bail in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court has rescheduled the hearing for July 24, when it will also consider bail pleas from other co-accused individuals. The case was heard by a bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Amit Sharma.

This decision comes as Umar Khalid’s bail plea under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, was due for hearing. Justice Sharma has previously recused himself from hearing bail pleas of co-accused persons, which had been pending for a considerable time. Reports indicate that Justice Sharma has a history of appearing as a lawyer in various UAPA cases, which could potentially present a conflict of interest.

Earlier, on May 28, Umar Khalid’s second bail plea was denied by the high court. The JNU scholar subsequently challenged this order in an appeal before the Delhi High Court. This ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the high-profile Delhi riots conspiracy case.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright