Live: Kanhaiya Kumar's lawyers approach Delhi HC, SAR Geelani's bail plea dismissed

Kanhaiya Kumar’s plea will not be heard on Friday.

After another day of high drama, it turns out that Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail plea will not be heard in the High Court today, as an additional application in the case is yet to be filed, ANI reported. This means that the JNU students’ union president will continue to be in jail for now.

SAR Geelani’s bail plea dismissed

According to reports, the bail plea of SAR Geelani, former Delhi University professor, was rejected by the Patiala House court.

Now, laywers in Jammu and Kashmir protest against ‘anti-national’ activities

Kanhaiya Kumar’s advocates escorted by police

Advocates Vrinda Grover and Sushil Bajaj, while filing bail application of Kanhaiya Kumar in the High Court, were escorted by police, according to ANI.

Kanhaiya Kumar files bail petition in Delhi HC

According to ANI, JNUSU president Kanhaiay Kumar has now filed his bail plea in the Delhi High Court.

‘It’s natural to get angry.’

Another lawyer protesting in the march made this profound statement over the attack on journalists: “If anyone abuses one’s mother, won’t you feel angry? It is natural to get angry.”

‘We are not goons, we are lawyers.’

One of the lawyers protesting in the march from Patiala House court to India Gate said, “We are not goons. We are lawyers. We want to tell the media that we are protesting against the anti-national activities.”

“The people involved in earlier incidents were not lawyers,” he further said.

Meanwhile, the jingoistic protest outside Patiala House court continues.

Don’t threaten children with charges of sedition: Shashi Tharoor

In an interview to CNN-IBN, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “I am shocked about this (the action against the JNU students). India is not so feeble that it will be destroyed by students shouting slogans.”

He also said that the Centre and RSS were trying to impose their ideology upon universities. “Don’t threaten children with charges of sedition. It denies them the possibility of evolution. It denies them the opportunity to come up with all sorts of ideas in a university,” he said.

“I’m proud of the nation. This flag stands for freedom, democracy and social justice rather than petty, jingoistic feeling,” he said.

’Pakistan murdabad’ slogan heard at lawyers’ protest

‘Bharat mata ki jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ slogans were heard along with ‘Pakistan murdabad’ as the lawyers marched from outside the Patiala House court.

Lawyers march outside the Patiala House court

The protest outside the Patiala House court escalated as the lawyers began marchin in support of Vikram Singh Chauhan.

‘Thank JNU’ banners raised along with ISIS flags in Kashmir

Meanwhile, a clash between police and protesters took place in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, in which ‘Thank JNU’ banners were raised along with Islamic State flags.

Lawyers protest in support of Vikram Chauhan outside Patiala House court

Accordint to Times Now, lawyers are now protesting in support of Vikram Chauhan, the lawyer who had assaulted journalists and activists earlier near the Patiala House court.

Kanhaiya bail hearing: Restricted entry in HC

Delhi High Court restricted entry for mediapersons and others before hearing Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail plea which was earlier rejected by the Supreme Court. Vrinda Grover, Kanhaiya’s lawyer told mediapersons that they are asking the High Court for urgent hearing in the case.

Kanhaiya was injured during PH court scuffle

A report in The Hindustan Times said that the medical report of Kanhaiya Kumar confirmed that the JNUSU leader did get injured during the scuffle at the Patiala House Courts earlier this week. 

A day after Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi told The Hindustan Times that the arrested JNU student’s union leader Kanhaiya Kumar was not assaulted in the Patiala House court by rampaging lawyers, a medical report showed signs of injury on his face and feet.

The medical report, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times, said that “2-3 abrasions were present on Kanhaiya’s left foot.” The report also noted a “tenderness present on the right toe”.

Patriotism is in my blood: Rahul Gandhi on JNU row

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said he did not need lessons on patriotism from RSS and BJP, which have accused him of supporting “anti-nationals” over the JNU row. 

“I don’t need to take lesson from BJP and RSS…. Rastrabhakti mere khoon me hai (Patriotism is in my blood),” Rahul said when asked about his support to JNU students and the protests by BJP.

Mujhe isse koi fark nahi padta: BS Bassi on his removal as a CIC probable

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said that it does not make any difference to him if he is dropped from the nominations for Chief Information Commissioner. 

Following bad handling of the crisis in JNU, reports said that Bassi’s name has been dropped as a CIC probable.

Bassi’s name dropped from CIC probables

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi’s candidature has been dropped for the post of Information Commissioner, news reports said on Friday. The government had shortlisted Bassi for the post of Chief Information Commissioner, which had three vacancies. The committee that appoints the CIC is headed by PM Modi and also includes Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. 

The move comes days after the attack on JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar, his lawyers and mediapersons by goon lawyers on Wednesday and Thursday. Bassi and his team’s inaction was widely criticised and the Centre  was slammed for promoting the Delhi Police Commissioner as the CIC.

SC intervention will set a dangerous precedence

“You are leading a dangerous proposition. If this court will entertain it, it will become a precedent which will be available to all the accused in the country. Wherever there will be sensitive cases involving political persons or prominent persons or others…you know the atmosphere in the court.

“So in every case if it is said that Supreme Court is only the court, it would be a dangerous precedent,” a bench comprising justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre said.

Further, it said, “Remember, this is not the only case of this type.”

While transferring the bail plea of Kanhaiya, who has been charged with sedition, the bench took an assurance from Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar that in the “prevailing extraordinary situation” pertaining to this matter, the Government of India and the Delhi Police Commissioner would provide adequate safety and security to the accused and a stream of lawyers who will be appearing in the High Court.

PTI

IIT-Bombay condemns state’s overreach in educational institutions

Meanwhile, IIT-Bombay condemned the “overreach” of the State in various educational institutions. The faculty  alleged attempts to stifle dissent and suppress differences and has come out in support of agitating JNU students, saying the State should not dictate meaning of “nationalism”.

“The State cannot dictate on the many meanings of what it is to be ‘Indian’ or mandate the meaning of ’nationalism’. Rather, the State should be the one that makes sure that multiple ways of imagining one’s relationship with the nation are allowed to flourish especially when it might contradict dominant ways of thinking,” the faculty members said in a joint statement.

“We are deeply concerned with the recent events that have undermined the autonomy of institutions of higher education in this country. We believe that these institutions are spaces of critical thinking and expression. Matters of contention that might arise in the conduct of intellectual and social engagements need to be addressed democratically and rationally,” it said.

The statement, signed by 42 teachers of the premier institute, said, “These methods in turn should be within the purview of institutional procedures that are responsible and accountable. We condemn the overreach of the State in the recent incidents in a number of institutions and the attempts of the right-wing to stifle dissent and suppress differences.”

It reflects the stand of the signatory teachers and not the institution, it said.

PTI

‘Extremely disappointed’: JNU students react to SC refusing to hear Kanhaiya’s bail plea

Shehla Rashid VP of JNU students’ union,  who is leading the protest said, “We are extremely disappointed. We expected that the Supreme Court will intervene the matter and we will get relief. There is a fear of mob frenzy and it would have been best if the apex court itself would have heard the plea. We are really concerned about Kanhaiya’s security."

As told to Shishir Tripathi

We didn’t attack media, we condemn that: Vikram Chauhan

We didn’t attack media, we condemn that: Vikram Chauhan

The lawyer who attacked being garlanded : what more can one say

Straight from the court

Arguing for Kanhaiya, senior advocate Raju Ramachandran told the Supreme Court that the petitioner bypassed the lower courts as it was the matter of his security and his life was threatened. Supreme Court bench observed that the same bar council members could easily come to the premise of the apex court as well, “What will you do then?”

Additional Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar intervened and said that they are not discussing the merit of the case but they are worried about the security of Kanhaiya and his lawyers. Eminent lawyer Soli Sorabjee at the end stood up and reiterated Ramachandran’s fears. 

But the court was not satisfied.

As told by Tarique Anwar

Entry of journalists in HC will be regulated: SC

Counsel for all parties will be permitted in the High Court but entry of others including journalists would be regulated by Registrar General of High Court, the Supreme Court said on Friday.

Supreme Court also asked the government to ensure saftety and security of the counsel representing different parties.

Students are disappointed but haven’t lost heart

Cautious optimism is what JNU students are holding on to. Speaking to CNN-IBN, students agitating against Kanhaiya’s arrest said that supporters of Kanhaiya everyday come to the campus at around 11 am and urge the government to release the JNU students’ union leader. 

SC’s ruling is a setback for sure, but the students still have hope. Kanhaiya’s lawyers have said that they will approach the High Court today seeking bail.

SC allows Kanhaiya’s lawyer to amend the petition

Supreme Court agreed that the situation in Patiala House Courts is not proper. However, the top court rejected the petition that extraordinary situation led to moving the court for bail directly and added that it will create a situation where accused from across the country will approach it. 

The apex court asked the High Court to expeditiously hear the bail plea of Kanhaiya Kumar. The Suprem Court also allowed Kanhaiya’s lawyer to amend the petition.

Tharoor to move private member’s bill against sedition

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday declared intentions to move a private members bill in Parliament seeking that one should not be charged with sedition until he or she advocates violence.

“I will move a private members bill against sedition. Until someone advocates violence.., talks about physical violence, one should not be charged with sedition,” Tharoor told reporters in Indore on Thursday.

Will move High Court today: Kanhaiya’s lawyer

After Supreme Court refused to hear Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail plea, his lawyers said that they will move the High Court today. The apex court also directed the Delhi Police and the government of India to ensure safety of the accused and his lawyers.

Supreme Court said they don’t want to set a wrong precedent by hearing this bail plea. 

SC directs government of India to ensure Kanhaiya’s security

Ensure Kanhaiya’s security: SC

SC tells Kanhaiya to approach High Court for bail