Dissenters like Umar Khalid jailed, killers walk free: Ex-Delhi HC judge

Former Chief Justice of Delhi high court Justice AP Shah criticized the continued incarceration of Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to 2020 Delhi riots at an event in Goa.

Shah said Khalid has been under trial for seven years while violent offenders, including a godman from north India, get bail or remissions.

Shah expressed concern that the number of independent-minded judges in India is shrinking.

He flagged judiciary's shortcomings in protecting free speech, preventing bulldozer demolitions and encounter killings, and prosecuting students in CJP protests.

He said laws and tools are used to silence activists, dissenters, and political cartoonists, and critical media houses face tax cases and financial scrutiny.