‘That speech is in bad taste does not make it terrorist activity’: HC on Umar’s speech

The court made the observation after Khalid’s counsel, senior advocate Trideep Pais, referred to the speech in his arguments during the hearing of Khalid’s bail appeal. When Pais submitted that a witness had told police that “so and so told me he (Khalid) gave a provocative speech”, Justice Mridul observed that the “expression ‘provocative’ does not make anything provocative”.

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On April 22, the division bench had said, “This is offensive, obnoxious. Don’t you think? These expressions being used, don’t you think they incite people? You say things like aap ke purvaj angrezon ki dalali kar rahe the, you don’t think it is offensive? It is offensive per se.”

The bail appeal was adjourned for the next hearing on July 4, the date on which Pais is likely to conclude his arguments.

Since the prosecution is yet to start arguments in the case, the court observed it may not be possible to conclude the matter before Friday, the last working day before summer vacation. The court closes for vacation in June and will reopen on July 4. “This matter has taken more than we envisaged that it would. We can have it only on reopening now…,” said the court, adding that Khalid’s case cannot be heard on a day-to-day basis at the cost of others.