The Delhi High Court has sought responses from Tihar Jail authorities and Delhi Police on a plea by Muslim student leader and undertrial prisoner Sharjeel Imam seeking access to his PhD research material and permission to use prison computers to continue his doctoral work. According to Kashmir Media Service, Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim, appearing for Imam, told the court that Imam has been in custody since January 2020 and was in the final year of his PhD at the time of his arrest.

“At the time of his arrest, he was in the final year of his PhD. His synopsis has been approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the University [JNU]. I am asking that he be allowed his research material,” he said. He clarified that Imam was not seeking internet access but only permission to use computer facilities available inside jail. When the court asked why physical copies could not be provided, Ibrahim said the material would run into lakhs of pages. Imam had enrolled as a doctoral scholar in Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) before his arrest in January 2020.

Through his plea, he sought permission to receive research material from his lawyers on a pen drive and use computers inside jail, submitting that the material is neither banned nor restricted by Government of India. According to plea, a trial court in April 2026 had directed the Superintendent of Prison to consider his request and the then Superintendent permitted him to receive pen drive from his lawyers. However, the Superintendent was transferred before material could be handed over.

The new Superintendent later declined access, stating specific court order would be required. In July 2026, the trial court declined permission, leaving matter to discretion of Superintendent. Imam remains imprisoned in connection with UAPA charges in alleged conspiracy case related to February 2020 Delhi violence despite securing bail in other criminal cases linked to anti-CAA protest speeches. Critics have described prolonged incarceration of Umar Khalid and other anti-CAA activists as criminalization of dissent, expressing concern over use of stringent laws such as UAPA to keep accused persons imprisoned for years without trial.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)