UAPA Case No Blanket Bar on Travel: Delhi HC Allows Narwal’s UK Trip

The Delhi High Court has allowed Natasha Narwal, an accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots cases, to travel to the United Kingdom from November 2 to December 1, setting aside a trial court’s refusal. “The fact that the petitioner has been charged of serious offences under the UAPA does not curtail her right to travel abroad in a blanket manner,” Justice Amit Bansal said in the order of October 16, Bar and Bench and The Statesman reported.

Narwal, a PhD scholar, will present a paper at the annual Historical Materialism conference at SOAS, University of London, and meet her PhD supervisor. The prosecution had argued she could take part by video and that she might seek asylum in the UK. The court imposed conditions, including sureties, an undertaking to return to India and not to seek asylum, and a direction not to comment on the merits of the cases; reports differ on the exact surety amounts.

The ruling adds to court decisions holding that serious charges alone do not justify open-ended restrictions on an accused person’s liberty, including the right to travel, while a trial is pending. More in IPB’s Quick Reads.

Based on reporting by Bar and Bench, The Statesman, ANI and Deccan Chronicle.

Image: IPB.