The Delhi High Court on Monday called for a status report from Tihar jail administration regarding an application by student activist Sharjeel Imam seeking permission to view academic research stored on a flash drive to complete his doctoral thesis.
Justice Sanjeev Narula issued formal notice to prison officials to submit their response and scheduled the next hearing for November 2.
Imam, who remains in custody over an alleged conspiracy related to the 2020 communal violence in northeast Delhi, requested supervised use of a standalone computer located inside the correctional facility. The plea specifies that the machine would operate without internet access and remain under the continuous oversight of jail personnel during his work.
Academic Work and Legal Arguments
Appearing for Imam, defence counsel stated that the applicant was in the final year of his doctoral degree before his detention in January 2020. The lawyer noted that both the University Grants Commission and Jawaharlal Nehru University have already approved his PhD synopsis.
The special public prosecutor representing the Delhi Police informed the court that the state did not oppose the academic request during proceedings before the trial court. According to the prosecutor, earlier objections were raised solely by prison authorities concerning the electronic drive rather than printed academic literature. The prosecution submitted that the court could allow the arrangement under staff supervision provided Imam demonstrates to jail authorities the exact materials he seeks to review.
Case Background
Imam was booked under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and arrested on August 25, 2020, over allegations of being one of the central figures behind the broader conspiracy linked to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The communal clashes, which flared during public demonstrations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the National Register of Citizens, claimed 53 lives and caused injuries to more than 700 people.
