Read Time: 04 minutes
Malik was convicted on May 19, 2022, in connection with the Jammu & Kashmir terror funding and secessionist activities case. The sentence was delivered on May 25, 2022, by NIA Judge Praveen Singh, who sentenced Malik to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 10 lakhs.
The Delhi High Court, on Friday, allowed the plea of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorist Yasin Malik to represent himself in the case. The bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Girish Kathpalia granted Malik’s request to represent himself and consequently scheduled the case for September 19, 2024, at 3 PM.
Previously, the court had ordered Malik’s appearance through video conferencing, following an appeal by the NIA, which sought the death penalty for Malik.
The court observed that Malik “was given the option to appoint any lawyer or amicus curiae. However, he refused both options”. As a result, the next hearing was set for September 19th at 3 PM.
Malik chose not to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court and instead expressed his desire to present his arguments via video conference. The case is rooted in a 2022 trial court decision, which the National Investigating Agency (NIA) later appealed, seeking the death penalty.
On May 29, the court directed the Jail Superintendent of Tihar Jail to issue warrants for the production of Yasin Malik at the next hearing, ordering that he be physically produced before the court.
However, the Jail Superintendent of Tihar Jail petitioned the court to allow the presentation of Malik via video conferencing, citing his status as a ‘very high-risk prisoner’.
Malik was physically produced before the Supreme Court in connection with a kidnapping case against him, prompting Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta to inform Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla about a ‘serious security lapse’.
On July 21, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta wrote to Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, expressing concerns over Yasin Malik’s appearance at the Supreme Court, despite an order under Section 268 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibited his removal from jail premises. Mehta warned, ‘Even the security of the Supreme Court would have been seriously compromised if any untoward incident had occurred’.
Please Login or Register
