New Delhi, Oct. 24:
The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging a police notice directing her to execute a bond to maintain peace before a Special Executive Magistrate.
Bora had approached the High Court challenging the notice issued on October 17 under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The notice directed her to appear before the magistrate and explain why she should not execute a personal bond of ₹10,000 with one surety to maintain peace during the inquiry.
During the hearing, Bora’s counsel argued that the notice was vague, factually incorrect and unsupported by material establishing the likelihood of a breach of peace. The petition alleged that the proceedings amounted to an attempt to misuse preventive powers to suppress peaceful dissent, violating her constitutional rights to freedom of speech, assembly and personal liberty.
Her counsel also contended that citizens did not require permission to hoist the national flag, challenging the police’s allegation that she had done so without valid authorisation.
Bora was taken into preventive detention on October 16 while on her way to participate in the Cockroach Janta Party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march in Delhi. She was released the following day. The police notice cited allegations relating to sloganeering, protests and her purported role in mobilising demonstrators.