India’s unity won’t bend on slogans: HC on bail to Kashmiri students | India News
In his order, Justice Ajay Bhanot said, “The foundations of our nation are more enduring. Eternal ideals bind the indestructible unity of India. Constitutional values create an indissoluble union of India. Every citizen of the country is the custodian, and the state is the sentinel of the unity of ndia and the constitutional values of the nation”.
The order also stated that “students travelling freely to different parts of the country in their quest for knowledge is the true celebration of India’s diversity and a vivid manifestation of the country’s unity”. Bhanot added: “It is the duty of the people of the hosting state to create enabling conditions for visiting scholars to learn and to live the constitutional values of our nation. It is also the obligation of young scholars to imbibe and adhere to such values”.
The Allahabad high court invoked poet Iqbal to say, “Constancy of Indian values and perpetuity of the Indian people led him to sing aloud the glory of our motherland: ‘Kuch baat hai ki hasti mitati nahi humari…sadiyon raha hai dushman, daur-e-jaman humara.. sare jahan se acha Hindustan humara (There is something about us that doesn’t get wiped out, the enemy has been there eternally, but India remains most beautiful in the world).”
The court also took exception to the Agra district bar association’s decision to not provide legal assistance to the Kashmiri students and the assault on them on district court premises by some. “It is a matter of concern,” the order said, adding, “The court does not propose to inquire into these allegations at this stage since it is better to enlarge the applicants on bail and cut the controversy short. Lawyers have an oath inscribed in their consciences to assist the cause of law under all circumstances and to serve justice to all those who seek it at all times.”
An FIR was lodged against the students under Sections 124A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), and 505 (1)(b) (publishing or circulating any statement, rumour, or report with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause fear or alarm to public) of the IPC. They have been in jail since October 27, 2021.
Counsel for the students Sudhakar Yadav said that all three will be released soon after furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each.
