Today, the Supreme Court of India, rejected a plea filed by the Delhi Police against the bail granted to three student activists in the 2020 North East Delhi riots case.

A division bench of Justices SK Kaul and A Amanullah passed the order while hearing the pleas filed by police challenging the Delhi High Court’s June 15, 2021 verdicts granting bail to activists Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha in a case related to communal violence during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Earlier, in 2021, the Supreme Court had indicated its reluctance to consider the aspect of cancellation of bail granted to the three activists, who were booked under the provisions of the stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Earlier, the Supreme Court expressed its displeasure over the high court discussing the entire anti-terror law UAPA in a bail matter and had made it clear that the judgements shall not be treated as a precedent and may not be relied upon by any of the parties in any of the proceedings.

The police had assailed the high court verdicts, saying the interpretation by the high court will weaken the prosecution in terror cases.     

The Delhi High Court had granted them bail, saying in anxiety to suppress dissent, the State has blurred the line between the right to protest and terrorist activity, and if such a mindset gains traction, it would be a "sad day for democracy". Kalita, Narwal and Tanha are accused in four, three and two cases, respectively, related to the communal riots that broke out on February 24, 2020.