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The court observed that the majority of the accused students and journalists are young individuals with non-habitual criminal records
Addressing claims raised regarding physical scuffles during detentions, the court directed the jail superintendent to ensure immediate medical care for those injured during the protest or subsequent police action. Representational pic/PTI
A Delhi court has granted bail to 17 students and freelance journalists who were arrested during high-voltage demonstrations at Jantar Mantar targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Judicial Magistrate First Class Animesh Kumar at Patiala House Court ordered their immediate release, noting that the right to peaceful protest remains fundamental, provided it does not cross into violence.
The ruling provides significant relief following a tense standoff in the capital, where security forces clashed with student activists and media personnel.
Court Cites Age and Non-Habitual Status
In four separate orders, the court observed that the majority of the accused are young individuals with non-habitual criminal records. The bench emphasised that the charges invoked—primarily relating to obstructing public spaces and resisting police officers under Section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—carry a maximum sentence of two years and are largely bailable.
Highlighting that the accused “have their entire careers lying ahead”, the magistrate ruled that continued detention was unwarranted. Each demonstrator was granted bail upon furnishing a personal bond with one surety.
Judicial Directives on Injuries and Police Charges
Addressing claims raised regarding physical scuffles during detentions, the court directed the jail superintendent to ensure immediate medical care for those injured during the protest or subsequent police action. The order specifically mandated that proper medical evaluation be conducted as advised by official medical officers.
At A Glance
A Delhi court granted bail to 17 students and freelance journalists.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Animesh Kumar at Patiala House Court ordered their immediate release.
The court observed that the majority of the accused are young individuals with non-habitual criminal records.
The charges invoked carry a maximum sentence of two years and are largely bailable.
The court imposed specific compliance conditions on all 17 individuals for their release.
While granting relief, the court acknowledged the severity of police allegations regarding physical resistance, manhandling of personnel, and disruption of transit routes. The bench reiterated that while expressing opposition is legally protected, assaulting officers on duty remains a grave concern that cannot be countenanced under the guise of agitation.
Conditions Applied for Release
To ensure smooth judicial proceedings moving forward, the court imposed specific compliance conditions on all 17 individuals. The released students and journalists must maintain active mobile contact numbers, refrain from committing further offences, regularly attend all scheduled court dates, and seek prior judicial permission before travelling outside India.
With the bail orders dispatched to the New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police for compliance, the decision marks a critical legal juncture in the ongoing political friction surrounding the Election Commission.
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Ask News18A Delhi court granted bail to 17 students and freelance journalists, citing that they were young individuals with non-habitual criminal records who had their entire careers ahead of them, and that the charges of obstructing public spaces carried a maximum sentence of two years and were bailable.
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Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
October 07, 2026, 02:51 IST
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