Delhi High Court Permits MP Rashid Sheikh to Attend Parliament in Custody

The Delhi High Court has granted Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh permission to attend Parliament sessions, under custody, from March 26 to April 4, 2024. Despite being held in a terror funding case, he can participate with strict conditions, including no phone access or media interaction, and travel expenses borne by him.

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has granted Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh permission to attend forthcoming parliamentary sessions while under judicial custody. Sheikh, currently detained in a terror funding case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is allowed to attend proceedings from March 26 to April 4, 2024.

The decision was handed down by a bench comprising Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani, following a petition by Sheikh, represented by senior advocate N Hariharan and advocate Vikhyat Oberoi. The ruling outlines stringent conditions, prohibiting Sheikh from using communication devices and interacting with the media during his tenure in Parliament.

While the Director General (Prisons) is tasked with ensuring Sheikh's daily custody transport between Tihar Jail and Parliament House, costs for associated arrangements are to be borne by Sheikh. Compliance with parliamentary protocols and custody conditions is mandated, with the NIA empowered to seek revocation of permissions if terms are violated.

(With inputs from agencies.)