South Central Umar Khalid’s UAPA Bail Rejection & Southern Leaders' Secularism Dilemma | South Central 43
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Sep 12, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Shahrukh Alam, a seasoned Supreme Court lawyer, Poorna Ravishankar, a constitutional expert and advocate for marginalized rights, and Meera Velayudhan, a feminist scholar, delve into the troubling case of Umar Khalid and others imprisoned without trial under UAPA. They explore the systemic judicial challenges in high-profile bail rejections while critiquing the intersection of politics and justice. Their conversation shifts to the delicate balance Southern leaders navigate between secularism and community identity amidst a politically charged climate.
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Dissent Framed As Conspiracy Lacks Nexus
- The prosecution recasts long-term dissent and protest organisation as a terror conspiracy without proving a causal chain to violence.
- Shahrukh Alam shows the charge sheet lacks who was incited and thus fails the higher threshold for UAPA terror allegations.
Process As Punishment In Pretrial Detention
- Process becomes punishment when suspects are held for years without timely trials or conviction.
- Our bail and remand practices prioritize detention over alternatives, enabling prolonged pre-trial incarceration.
Security Rhetoric Narrows Judicial Scrutiny
- Courts and prosecution often step back when cases are framed in vague national security terms.
- This dynamic criminalizes Muslim political mobilisation by treating outreach and mosque visits as suspect.
