The Delhi High Court has rejected a writ petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging a notice directing her to furnish a personal bond of ₹10,000 with one surety to maintain peace during an inquiry initiated following her participation in a protest in New Delhi.

Justice Subramonium Prasad pronounced the order virtually on Friday, after reserving judgment on October 22. The petition challenged preventive proceedings initiated under Sections 126 and 130, read with Section 135(3), of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

While rejecting the petition, the Court observed that sufficient safeguards have been provided and directions issued to the Magistrate to ensure that the matter is considered appropriately.

The Court further observed that the Magistrate would have to examine whether Section 135 of the BNSS warrants directing Bora to furnish a bond at the initial stage itself, when only a show-cause notice has been issued, or whether such a requirement would arise only if circumstances emerging during the inquiry indicate a potential threat to peace. The Court left it to the Magistrate to consider these aspects before passing an appropriate order in the inquiry.

The Court directed that all materials relied upon in the proceedings must be furnished to Neha Bora. The direction follows the Court’s observations during yesterday’s hearing, when it sought clarification on the materials placed before the Magistrate and whether the documents relied upon by the State had been provided to her. The Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma had acknowledged that the kalandra and other documents had not been supplied to her, following which the Court directed the State to provide them.

For detailed order, we wait the judgment copy