The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Natasha Narwal, an accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, to travel to the United Kingdom for an academic conference and research work.
Justice Amit Bansal directed Narwal to visit the UK from November 02 to December 01, subject to her executing a personal bond of Rs. 1 lakh with surety of her brother who is a resident of Haryana.
The Court directed Narwal and her brother to give an undertaking before the trial court that she will come back to India and will not apply for asylum in UK.
It also directed Narwal to not speak or make any statement about the merits of the ongoing case against her during her stay in UK.
It ordered that the order shall accompany her visa application and that the trial court will release her passport and that any LOC opened against her shall remain suspended during the travel period.
The Court directed Narwal to surrender her passport back to the trial court within 48 hours of her return to India.
The Court noted that it could not be denied that Narwal is pursuing her PhD at the foreign university for last three years and has not made any request to travel abroad since her enrolment in 2023.
It noted that as per a letter issued by her supervisor, Narwal is required to appear in person for supervisory meeting, presenting her work to academic staff and researchers and to take part in the doctoral training on campus.
The Court also noted that as per the letter, the visit is necessary for academic purposes and for qualification of her thesis which she has to submit to get PhD.
ASG SV Raju appearing for the Delhi Police objected to the plea, saying that UK has strict extradition laws and that if Narwal does not return to India, it will be very difficult to extradite her.
He said that as per a mail sent by the varsity, even a co author can present the paper. To this, Advocate Adit Pujari appearing for Narwal said that she does not have a co author and needs to present the paper herself.
Raju also said that there is no need for her physical visit and that she has been pursuing the course virtually for last three years.
On this Pujari said, “The situation is beti bhagao. We are saying beti padhaao.”
As the Delhi Police opposed the relief, the Court remarked:
“We cannot restrict the right to travel under Article 21. Your hands are not tied. You are the Government of India. The trial will take 20 years. You cannot keep the person here. It is a renowned university and she wants to travel for academic pursuits.”
Narwal challenged the orders passed by the trial court in two riots cases denying her permission , observing that the right to travel abroad is not absolute and that the pendency of proceedings under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was a relevant consideration.
Narwal approached the trial court seeking permission to travel to the UK to present a research paper at the 23rd Annual Historical Materialism Conference, scheduled to be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, from November 05 to 08.
Her paper is titled “Gendered Carceral Labour as Social Reproduction.”
