Umar Khalid Moves Supreme Court For Open Hearing In Review Petition
Umar Khalid seeks open court hearing of his review petition in Delhi riots case.
The Supreme Court on Monday was urged to hear in open court the review petition filed by student activist Umar Khalid in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots, according to proceedings mentioned before the apex court.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale, requesting that the review petition—listed for hearing on Wednesday—be taken up in open court rather than in chambers. He submitted that the nature of the case warranted greater judicial transparency during the review process.
In response, the bench stated that it would examine the request and take a decision accordingly, noting that the matter would be considered if necessary. The court did not pass any immediate direction on whether the review petition would be heard in open proceedings.
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Typically, review petitions before the Supreme Court are adjudicated in chambers and are limited to examining errors apparent on the face of the record. Open court hearings in such matters are uncommon and generally depend on the discretion of the bench.
The case relates to allegations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) concerning an alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. Earlier in January this year, the Supreme Court had declined bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case, while granting relief to several other accused persons.
At that time, the court observed that prosecution material had established a prima facie case against Khalid and Imam, noting alleged involvement in planning and coordination activities. The bench had also held that in conspiracy cases, direct participation in the final act of violence is not necessary if a broader unlawful design can be inferred from the evidence.
The Supreme Court had, however, clarified that its observations were limited to the question of bail and would not have any bearing on the ongoing trial proceedings. The review petition now seeks reconsideration of those earlier judicial findings.
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