Jagtar Singh Johal, a British national and Sikh activist, was released from a Delhi prison after the city’s high court intervened to enforce an earlier bail order. The court warned the Indian government it would be found in contempt if it continued to detain him despite the 18 September direction to grant bail.
Court order and habeas corpus
The high court’s action followed a writ of habeas corpus filed by Johal’s lawyers, which contended that he was being detained contrary to the express direction of the court. The judges issued the bail order and issued the warning that the government risked contempt if it did not comply with the release direction.
Nine years without a full trial
Johal had been held for nine years without any full trial. His prolonged pre-trial detention drew legal challenges that culminated in the recent habeas corpus petition and the court’s subsequent directive to free him on bail.
Significance and next steps
The court’s intervention underscores judicial oversight in cases of extended detention and the enforcement of court orders against executive inaction. Details about any conditions attached to the bail or subsequent legal proceedings were not disclosed in the order that led to his release.