Neelam
Azad, accused in the
Parliament security breach
case, has filed a habeas corpus petition in the
Delhi high court
seeking immediate release from police custody.
In her petition, she has challenged the legality of the trial court’s December 21 order remanding her in police custody.
Neelam Azad claimed that she was not allowed to consult the legal practitioner of her choice to defend her during the remand proceedings. It was only after the disposal of the remand application that she was asked by the court if she wanted to be represented by an advocate of her choice, and when she replied in the affirmative, an order was passed permitting her to consult her advocate, she stated.
The plea further said that Azad was produced before the court for the first time on December 14, after spending 29 hours in police custody.
Azad said in her petition that the denial of legal representation of her choice was a violation of her rights under Article 22(1) of the Constitution.
“…She was not permitted by the respondent (Delhi Police) to consult an advocate of her choice. Rather, upon arrival at the court, an advocate associated with DLSA (Delhi Legal Services Authority) already present in the court was appointed, as she did not have legal representation,” the plea said.
English (US) ·