Baramulla MP Seeks Permission to Attend Parliament Amid Terror-Funding Trial
New Delhi, Feb 10 – The Delhi High Court is set to pronounce its verdict today at 2:30 PM on the custody parole plea of jailed MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Rashid Engineer, who is seeking permission to attend the ongoing Parliament session.
Justice Vikas Mahajan had reserved the order on February 7 after hearing arguments from both sides. Rashid, who represents Baramulla in the Lok Sabha, has been behind bars since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case.
Rashid moved the high court claiming he had been left without any legal remedy after the NIA court, handling his bail application, refused to decide on his plea, citing its lack of jurisdiction over MPs and MLAs. As an interim measure, he sought custody parole to attend Parliament, arguing that his presence in the House was crucial.
However, the NIA strongly opposed his plea, asserting that Rashid had no absolute right to attend Parliament while in custody. The agency also raised security concerns, arguing that his release, even under strict conditions, could pose a significant risk.
Rashid’s case has stirred a debate over the rights of incarcerated lawmakers and the balance between national security and democratic representation. If granted custody parole, it could set a precedent for other jailed politicians seeking to participate in legislative proceedings.
The high court's decision will be closely watched, as it may have far-reaching consequences on the legal and political landscape.
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