Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Yasin Malik, the chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), in response to a petition filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking the death penalty for him.

Division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh has issued a notice to Yasin Malik through the concerned Tihar Jail Superintendent. The court has listed the matter for hearing on August 09.

However, the court also made a statement distinguishing Yasin Malik from Osama bin Laden, stating that the latter never stood trial.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the NIA, argued that advocating for the separation of a region from the country is a serious offense. He expressed concern that if a terrorist engages in such activities and pleads guilty, receiving a life sentence instead of the death penalty could set a precedent where everyone would try to avoid a trial.

The NIA argued that not awarding capital punishment to Yasin Malik, whom they consider a "dreaded terrorist," would lead to a miscarriage of justice.

Yasin Malik had previously been sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in a terror funding case.

However, considering the circumstances and the fact that Yasin Malik had pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which includes the provision for the death penalty, the bench condoned the delay in refiling the appeal.

Case Title: "State (National Investigation Agency) v. Mohd Yasin Malik."