Delhi High Court Judge Recuses Himself in Yasin Malik Death Penalty Case

Delhi High Court's Justice Amit Sharma recused himself from hearing the NIA's plea for a death penalty against separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. The case will be reallocated to another bench. Malik, currently serving a life sentence, appeared virtually from Tihar jail.

Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma recused himself on Thursday from hearing the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) plea for a death penalty against separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case.

The case was listed before a division bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh following a change in the roster of judges handling such cases. "List before another bench, of which Justice Sharma is not a member, on August 9," stated Justice Singh.

Yasin Malik, head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, is currently serving a life term and appeared virtually from Tihar jail for the proceedings. The court has mandated his virtual presence for the next hearing as well.

On May 29 of last year, the high court issued a notice to Malik regarding the NIA's plea for a death penalty. Malik was convicted by a trial court on May 24, 2022, for offenses under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code, after pleading guilty to the charges.

The NIA argues that life imprisonment is insufficient for such serious crimes and could undermine sentencing policies if terrorists can avoid capital punishment by pleading guilty. The trial court previously stated the case did not meet the 'rarest of the rare' criteria for a death penalty.