HC denies protection against arrest to JNU students

Bench asks Umar Khalid and Anirban to follow the due process of law.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim protection against arrest for a day to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Anirban, facing charges of sedition by organising an event on the university campus, and asked them to follow due procedure of law.

The Bench of Justice Pratibha Rani, hearing the petitions of the two students seeking their protection before they surrender, adjourned the case till Wednesday. The court said the matter would come up along with another case in which JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar has sought bail and challenged his arrest.

Lawyer’s writ plea dismissed

Another Bench of the High Court dismissed a writ petition moved by a lawyer seeking directions to the Delhi Police to enter the JNU campus and arrest the accused students, against whom lookout notices have been issued.

Five students, including Umar and Anirban, accused of sedition in connection with an event organised in JNU against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, had returned to the university on Sunday night after remaining untraceable for several days.