Guwahati: The All India Students’ Association (AISA) said on Monday that its president, Neha Bora, has challenged a Delhi Police notice directing her to execute a peace bond in the Delhi High Court, with her lawyers seeking an urgent hearing before the Chief Justice.
Bora was detained under preventive provisions on October 16 while on her way to participate in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march. She was released the following day.
The Delhi Police’s New Delhi district issued the notice on October 18 under Sections 126 and 130, read with Section 135(3), of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Dated October 17, it directed Bora to appear before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) of New Delhi district on October 19 at 2 pm.
The notice asked her to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000, along with one surety, to maintain peace during the inquiry.
According to AISA, the petition seeks an immediate stay and withdrawal of the notice, arguing that it is prima facie ambiguous, factually incorrect and violative of Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
Bora’s legal team, led by Abhik Chimni, Pranjal Abrol and Moksha, is also scheduled to appear before the SEM to respond to the notice and inform the magistrate of the challenge before the High Court.
AISA alleged that the notice was intended to restrict the right to peaceful protest. The association also accused Delhi Police of repeatedly invoking Section 163 of the BNSS, formerly Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, during demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and repeal of the 2023 law governing appointments to the Election Commission.
The association further alleged that the government had deployed more than 40,000 paramilitary personnel, shut metro stations and suspended internet connectivity to suppress the protests.