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New Delhi: More than 100 activists, writers, filmmakers, journalists and academics have written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as “concerned citizens of India”, urging intervention over the prolonged incarceration of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Both have been in custody for nearly six years without trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in connection with the 2020 Delhi violence.

“It is dissent that breathes democracy into a republic. As long as such laws continue to deny liberty and justice of those who practice dissent, we will only be doing disservice to the principles of democracy,” the letter said.

The open letter has been signed by prominent figures including Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, Ramachandra Guha, Prakash Raj, Rana Ayyub and Swara Bhasker. They refer to remarks made by CJI Kant during a recent lecture he delivered in Sweden on the Supreme Court’s 2021 judgment in Union of India v. KA Najeeb.

In the Najeeb case, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court held that prolonged incarceration without a reasonable prospect of the trial being completed could justify bail even under stringent laws such as the UAPA. The court held that such detention could infringe an accused person’s fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“You were one of the judges on that landmark 3-judge bench ruling,” the letter said, referring to  the Najeeb judgment.

Also read: Supreme Court Criticises Denial of Bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

The signatories said the principles set out in Najeeb should be considered in the cases of Khalid and Imam as well. Nearly six years after their arrests, their trial has not begun, while the prosecution has listed around 900 witnesses. Their bail applications have been rejected by different courts, including by a two-judge Supreme Court bench in January 2026 in the Gulfisha Fatima v. State case.

“Their trial hasn’t even begun till date. But despite that, their bail applications have been repeatedly rejected by different courts, including a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court in January 2026,” the letter states.

The letter also noted that the Gulfisha judgement was subsequently criticised by another Supreme Court bench in its May 18, 2026........

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