From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan’s bail plea on Friday on the ground of the seminal questions of the right to liberty, freedom of expression and speech vested in independent media under the aegis of the Indian Constitution.
Kappan along with three others were arrested on October 5, 2020 by the Uttar Pradesh Police under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) while going to Hathras after the rape and murder of a Dalit girl.
A counsel representing Kappan mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, that also comprised Justices Hima Kohli and C T Ravikumar. The bench agreed to list the matter on Friday.
Earlier this month, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had rejected Kappan’s plea for bail.
The plea says Kappan along with three others were arrested on October 5, 2020 by the Uttar Pradesh Police under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)while going to Hathras after the rape and murder of a Dalit girl.
A counsel representing Kappan mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana. The bench agreed to list the matter on Friday.
Earlier this month, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had rejected Kappan’s plea for bail.
Kappan along with three others were arrested on October 5, 2020 by the Uttar Pradesh Police under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)while going to Hathras after the rape and murder of a Dalit girl.
A counsel representing Kappan mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana. The bench agreed to list the matter on Friday.
Earlier this month, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had rejected Kappan’s plea for bail.
Kappan’s plea said he is currently employed in the ‘Azhimukham’ newspaper and is also a member of Press Club of India and Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ).
“The petitioner is an individual with clean antecedents, and has never fallen foul of the law. He is the sole breadwinner of his family, and his incarceration since October, 2020 has caused untold financial and mental hardship to his family and friends,” added the plea.
