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THE DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT DENYING BAIL TO UMAR KHALID AND SHARJEEL IMAM https://pucl.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/18Jan2025-PUCL-Position-Paper-SCUmarSHarjeel.pdf 18th Jan 20026

the judgment indicates that the Supreme Court has given the supreme imprimatur to the criminalisation of the constitutional freedoms of
speech, association and assembly, especially when exercised by Muslim citizens of India. It also lays down a troubling interpretation of the UAPA with serious implications for the future of the constitutional freedoms of speech, association and assembly.

PUCL states that the Supreme Court judgment, which has ignored set precedent and broadened the scope of terrorism under UAPA to include acts of civil disobedience and democratic protest by citizens, requires judicial review and scrutiny. UAPA has been systematically used against political dissenters and protesting citizens since its enactment. The amendments over the last decade have made the provisions even more draconian, leading to denial of bail in most cases, even where no or questionable evidence exists

Please see the full video of PUCL Dialogues on the issue.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4uASZySICY&pp=0gcJCU8KAYcqIYzv 

A group of US lawmakers have expressed their concern over the prolonged pre-trial detention of student activist and scholar Umar Khalid and have written to Vinay Mohan Kwatra , the Indian Ambassador in Washington, over the issue.

US Lawmakers Write to Indian Ambassador Expressing Concern Over Umar Khalid's Prolonged Detention - The Wire 

Urging that Khalid be granted bail, in their letter, the Members of the US Congress and the US Senate said that Khalid’s confinement in jail for almost five years “raises serious questions about due process, human rights and India’s obligations under international law”, reported The Tribune.

02/01/2026

Allegations Not Prima Facie Correct, Long Pre-Trial Custody' : Supreme Court Grants Bail To UAPA Accused In Case Over PFI-Links  https://www.livelaw.in/supreme-court/allegations-not-prima-facie-correct-long-pre-trial-custody-supreme-court-grants-bail-to-uapa-accused-in-case-over-pfi-links-278672 Yash Mittal 18 Dec 2024 

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/courts-should-not-hesitate-to-grant-bail-under-uapa-in-deserving-cases-supreme-court/article68522270.ece  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bail-rule-jail-exception-even-in-special-law-like-uapa-supreme-court/articleshow/112504869.cms In an important ruling, Supreme Court Tuesday held that the conventional idea ‘bail is the rule, jail is an exception’ should be applicable not only to IPC offences but also to others for which special statutes like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have been enacted if the conditions prescribed under that law are fulfilled.
While granting bail to a former constable of Bihar Police who was charged under the stringent UAPA because of his alleged association with the outlawed Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih emphasised that courts should not hesitate in granting bail in serious offences if a case is made out for bail.

Supreme Court cancels bail granted to 8 ‘PFI members’ in UAPA case https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pfi-nia-uapa-case-supreme-court-9345006/ May 24, 2024  Booked by the National Investigation Agency, the eight alleged members of the banned Popular Front of India were granted bail by the Madras High Court on October 19, 2023.