HC Issues Notice To NIA, Delhi Govt On Plea Challenging Communication Limits On UAPA Detainees
The petitioner's advocate argued that, according to a circular of September 2, 2022, certain prisoners have been barred from making phone and video calls daily
Published : March 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM IST
|Updated : March 13, 2025 at 5:41 PM IST
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has served a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi government asking for their response to a petition challenging limitations on phone calls and virtual meetings for inmates slapped with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Basit Kalam Siddiqui, the petitioner, has directed the challenge at Rule 261 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 and the directives restricting communications for certain inmates.
During the hearing, advocate Karthik Venu for Siddiqui informed the court of Justice D K Upadhyay that, according to a circular of September 2, 2022, certain prisoners have been barred from making phone and video calls daily. Under Rule 631 of the Delhi Prison Rules, there is a provision for UAPA prisoners to make only one call a week, while other prisoners are allowed to make five.
Venu said allowing only one phone call a week to UAPA prisoners is a violation of Articles 14, 21 and 22 of the Constitution.
He further argued that in the said circular, the frequency of e-meetings has also been reduced from twice a week to just once, and to avail the facility of making phone and video calls, a no-objection certificate will have to be obtained from the investigating agencies. Due to such restrictions, inmates can neither meet their family members nor their lawyers, which is an infringement of their fundamental rights.
After hearing arguments, the High Court tagged the petition with a similar petition by Hurriyat leader Naeem Ahmed Khan and ordered a detailed hearing on it.
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