Academic Win: Delhi HC Allows Riot Accused Natasha Narwal to Visit UK
The Delhi High Court has granted Natasha Narwal permission to travel to the UK for an academic conference despite her involvement in 2020 riot cases.
In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has granted permission to Natasha Narwal, an accused in three cases related to the 2020 Delhi riots, to travel to the United Kingdom. The court's decision allows her to pursue critical academic engagements, overturning a previous refusal by a lower court.
The Academic Purpose
Natasha Narwal is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Warwick, where she is conducting research on carceral labour. Her travel, scheduled from November 2 to December 1, 2026, is intended for two primary reasons:
- Conference Presentation: She has been selected to present a research paper titled “Gendered Carceral Labour as Social Reproduction” at the 23rd Annual Historical Materialism Conference. This event will take place at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, between November 5 and 8.
- Supervisory Meetings: The trip will also allow her to meet with her PhD supervisor and engage in research related to her academic work.
The Legal Battle: Trial Court vs. High Court
The road to this permission was not easy. On October 6, a trial court had initially rejected Narwal's request. The lower court reasoned that the right to travel abroad is not absolute, especially when proceedings under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are pending. The trial court highlighted that the charges against her carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, and concluded that permitting her to leave the country at the stage of considering charges was inappropriate.
However, after hearing arguments from her counsel, Adit S Pujari, Justice Amit Bansal of the Delhi High Court decided to grant the permission, albeit with strict conditions.
Opposition from the Prosecution
The plea faced strong opposition from the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Madhukar Pandey. The prosecution raised several concerns:
- Extradition Risks: ASG Raju argued that UK extradition laws are stringent, making it potentially difficult to bring Narwal back to India if she chose not to return.
- Online Learning: The prosecution pointed out that Narwal had been pursuing her course online for three years, questioning the absolute necessity of a physical visit for academic purposes.
- Asylum Fears: SPP Madhukar Pandey expressed concerns that Narwal might apply for asylum once in the UK.
Conditions for Travel
To mitigate the risks raised by the prosecution, the Delhi High Court imposed specific conditions on Narwal's travel. She is required to furnish a surety of ₹50,000 for each of the three cases she is involved in. Additionally, the prosecution had suggested further safeguards, including a surety bond from her brother and a formal undertaking that she would return to India and refrain from seeking asylum.