Delhi HC says Karni Sena president free to move around but participation in protest must be as per law

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday observed that Rashtriya Karni Sena President Dr Raj Shekhawat is free to move around, but if he wants to take part in a protest against UGC's equity regulations, the same shall be in accordance with law.

A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan made the observations while hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Shekhawat against his alleged house arrest.

Advocate Lokesh Bhardwaj appeared for Shekhawat and told the Court that Shekhawat was illegally detained by the Delhi Police and placed under house arrest to prevent him from leading a protest against the UGC's norms.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police told the Bench that Shekhawat was not arrested in any case. However, the police added that there is an apprehension that he may go to Jantar Mantar for protest.

After considering the submissions, the Bench said that since Shekhawat has not been detained, he is free to move around.

"Insofar as the allegation of detention is concerned, in view of the statement made by the ld Counsels for the Delhi Police to the effect that the Petitioner has not been detained, no further relief urgently needs to be granted in this matter. The statement of the Delhi Police is accepted and the Petitioner is free to move around. However, if there is any protest that the Petitioner wishes to participate in, the same shall be in accordance with law," the Court ordered.

The case will be heard next on September 1.

The case came to be listed before the High Court today after Shekhawat's lawyers mentioned the matter for urgent hearing.

His lawyer told a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia that Shekhawat was picked up by the Delhi Police while he was preparing to take part in the protests at Jantar Mantar.

The High Court then agreed to hear the matter today.

When the case was taken up, the police told the Court that he has not been arrested.

Advocates Lokesh Bhardwaj, Himanshu Sharma, Rahul Bhardwaj, Abhishek Tyagi, Jatin, Geetika Ojha and Ashishwarya Raj Singh appeared for Raj Shekhawat.

Delhi Police was represented by Hitesh Wali and Abhinav Kumar.

[Read Order]