Supreme Court to Consider Review Petition in Delhi Riots Case

Student leader Umar Khalid has approached the Supreme Court of India by filing a review petition seeking reconsideration of its earlier decision denying him bail. The court had previously observed that there were prima facie grounds supporting the allegations against him in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of Khalid, urged a bench comprising Justice Arvind Kumar and Justice N. V. Anjaria to hear the review petition in an open court instead of in chambers. He informed the bench that the matter is scheduled to be placed before the judges on April 16 and requested that it be considered through open arguments. Responding to the submission, Justice Arvind Kumar stated that the court would examine the documents and decide whether the matter requires an open court hearing. As per established Supreme Court procedures, review petitions are generally considered by judges in their chambers to address any apparent errors or miscarriage of justice. However, the petitioner has the option to request an open court hearing. Earlier, on January 5, the Supreme Court had rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, while granting bail to five other accused in the case. The court had held that a prima facie case was made out against Khalid and Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), citing evidence that indicated their involvement in planning the riots and mobilising crowds. The court had also clarified that while personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution is significant, maintaining public order and ensuring societal security are equally important.