"Completely Misplaced": High Court Dismisses Student Activist's Illegal Detention Plea

In the petition, Gulfisha Fatima claimed that her custody in a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case relating to alleged larger conspiracy that led to the north-east Delhi riots last year was illegal.

The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed a plea on behalf of student activist Gulfisha Fatima, claiming her detention in a Delhi riots case to be illegal, saying it was "completely misplaced" and "not maintainable". A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said the writ of habeas corpus would not lie in respect of a person who is in judicial custody. A habeas corpus petition is filed seeking direction to produce a person who is missing or illegally detained. "The facts will show that the petitioner is in judicial custody and detention, therefore, cannot be termed as illegal," the bench said.