Kashmiri students booked for raising pro-Pakistan slogans after T-20 World Cup match move Allahabad High Court for bail

The three Kashmiri students who were charged with sedition, after allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans after Pakistan's victory in a T-20 Cricket World Cup match against India, have moved the Allahabad High Court seeking bail..They have approached the High Court directly after Agra District Bar Association had passed a resolution, refusing to represent their case. .The three students, Arsheed Yusuf, Inayat Altaf Sheikh and Showkat Ahmed Ganai, pursuing engineering at Agra, were arrested on October 27 by Uttar Pradesh Police. All of them were charged under Sections 124 A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) 505 (1)(B) (statements conducing to public mischief with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66-F of the Information Technology Act. .In their plea, the three contended that there is no evidence against them and no offence is made out against them for sedition or promoting enmity between communities."For establishing the offence of sedition under Section 124A IPC, (it is necessary) to do acts which would bring the government established by law in India into hatred or contempt. In this case, there is not even a suggestion that the applicants did anything against the Government of India or Government of the State," the plea said. The plea further contended that the applicants did not raise any slogans against India or sent any WhatsApp messages. The applicants placed reliance on Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, to argue that their right to freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right as guaranteed by the Constitution under Article 19(1)(a)..Pertinently, the plea also highlighted how the lawyers at Agra Bar had assaulted the accused during their remand and the Bar Association also passed a resolution not to provide any legal assistance to them. "Some people and advocates of District Bar, Agra beat the applicants which is clear from a video recording and same shall be produced if required at the time of argument," the plea said.They also alleged that they are being threatened when they try to contact lawyers from the Agra Bar. "The right to get legal assistance as well as fair and impartial enquiry/ investigation to such an accused as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the entire bar of Agra judgeship is not ready to appear on behalf of the applicants before the court and defend the case on their behalf by filing bail application, thus under such circumstances, the applicants have no other remedy except to seek transfer of their case," the application said.