Jailed J&K MP Engineer Rashid Gets Parole to Attend Parliament
In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has granted a two-day custody parole to jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid to attend the ongoing budget session of Parliament. The court has imposed certain conditions on him, including a ban on using phones, the internet, and speaking to media or anyone else.
Engineer Rashid, a member of the Lok Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir, has been facing trial in a terror funding case. He was arrested in December 2017 and has been in jail since then. The court’s decision to grant him parole comes as a relief to him, allowing him to participate in the budget session of Parliament.
According to the order passed by the court, Rashid will be escorted by police during his parole period. He will have to report to the police station at 10 am and 6 pm every day, and will not be allowed to leave Delhi without prior permission from the court. Additionally, he will not be allowed to use his phone, access the internet, or speak to anyone, including the media or his friends and family.
The court’s conditions are aimed at ensuring that Rashid does not misuse his parole and does not influence the proceedings of the court. The order states that Rashid will have to maintain strict discipline and will not indulge in any activity that could compromise the proceedings of the court.
The court’s decision to grant parole to Rashid has been welcomed by his supporters, who have been demanding his release from jail. Rashid has been a vocal critic of the government’s policies in Jammu and Kashmir, and his arrest has been seen as an attempt to muzzle his voice.
The order to grant parole to Rashid was passed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, who observed that the MP’s presence in Parliament was essential for the smooth functioning of the House. The court took into account the fact that Rashid was a member of Parliament and that his absence could cause inconvenience to his constituents.
The court’s decision to grant parole to Rashid has also been seen as a significant development in the context of the ongoing political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. The state has been under siege since August 2019, when the government withdrew Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to the state.
The government’s move was seen as a bid to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country, but it has been opposed by many in the state, who see it as an attempt to suppress their identity and autonomy. Rashid’s arrest and detention have been seen as part of this larger effort to silence dissenting voices in the state.
The court’s decision to grant parole to Rashid is seen as a small victory for him and his supporters, who have been demanding his release from jail. However, the conditions imposed on him are a reminder that he is still a prisoner and is subject to the court’s orders.
In conclusion, the Delhi High Court’s decision to grant parole to jailed MP Engineer Rashid is a significant development in the context of the ongoing political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. The court’s conditions are aimed at ensuring that Rashid does not misuse his parole and does not influence the proceedings of the court. However, the decision is also seen as a small victory for Rashid and his supporters, who have been demanding his release from jail.
