Delhi Riots of 2020, which erupted during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), have led to a prolonged legal battle for the 18 individuals accused of conspiring to incite the violence. Despite the gravity of the charges, only six of the accused have been granted bail so far, while the rest face significant delays in their cases.
Delayed justice in Delhi riots cases and procedural hurdles
The bail applications of the remaining accused have been delayed and prolonged by numerous adjournments, bench changes, and pending orders. For instance, Sharjeel Imam’s bail plea, first listed on April 29, 2022, has been heard 73 times with six changes in the bench, with no judgment reserved yet.
Similarly, Meeran Haider’s plea, listed on May 20, 2022, has faced 76 listings and eight bench changes, with judgment reserved on March 6, 2023. Gulfisha Fatima’s case, listed on May 11, 2022, has seen 73 listings and four bench changes, with judgment reserved on February 13, 2023.
The delays have been further exacerbated by judicial transfers and recusals. Justice Siddharth Mridul’s transfer to the Manipur High Court as the new Chief Justice required a re-hearing of all bail applications by a new bench. The special bench of Justices Suresh Kait and Manoj Jain, which started hearing cases in January 2024, has also faced delays, with the matter now pending before a new bench after Justice Amit Sharma’s recusal.
This story was originally published in siasat.com. Read the full story here.
