Delhi High Court judge recuses himself from hearing NIA plea seeking death penalty for Yasin Malik

Delhi High Court judge recuses from hearing NIA plea for Yasin Malik's death penalty; virtual court proceedings continue.

Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma on July 11 recused himself from hearing a plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror-funding case.

The matter was listed before a division Bench headed by Justice Prathiba M. Singh after a change in the roster of judges dealing with such cases. "List before another Bench, of which Justice Sharma is not a member, on August 9," Justice Singh said.

Yasin Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, who is currently serving a life term in the case, was virtually present for the the court proceedings from the Tihar jail in New Delhi. The court directed that he will appear virtually on the next date as well.

On May 29 last year, the high court had issued a notice to Malik on the NIA's plea seeking death penalty for him in the terror-funding case and had sought his presence before it on the next date.

Subsequently, jail authorities had filed an application seeking permission for his virtual appearance on the grounds that he was a "very high-risk prisoner" and it was imperative to not physically produce him in court to maintain public order and safety. The request was allowed by the high court.

In the present matter, on May 24, 2022, a trial court in Delhi had sentenced Malik to life imprisonment after holding him guilty for offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code.

Malik had pleaded guilty to the charges, including those under the UAPA, and was convicted and sentenced to life-imprisonment.