Delhi High Court Reserves Order on Engineer Rashid's Custody Plea for Parliament

The Delhi High Court has reserved its decision on Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid's plea, seeking permission to attend parliamentary sessions while in custody. Rashid argues for the right to fulfill his duties as an elected representative, despite opposition from the NIA citing serious charges against him.

The Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, reserved its decision regarding the plea of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, who sought permission to attend Parliament sessions while in custody. The division bench, comprising justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani, heard arguments from both Rashid's counsel and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Senior advocates N Hariharan and Vikhyat Oberoi represented Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, emphasizing his request for custody attendance during parliamentary sessions. They referenced previous decisions allowing him interim parole for election campaigns. Meanwhile, the NIA countered by highlighting serious charges against Rashid and potential security risks if he attends Parliament.

NIA raised concerns about the implications of Rashid delivering speeches in Parliament and pointed out a jail rule breach involving a mobile phone incident. While the counsel for Rashid argued that his parliamentary role deserved consideration, the NIA asserted that no fundamental right grants Parliament attendance. The court awaits further deliberation on imposing conditions, as questions about the speaker's authority emerged.

(With inputs from agencies.)