2020 Delhi Riots: One More Delhi HC Judge Recuses From Hearing Asif Tanha Plea

The Delhi High Court judge Justice Amit Sharma on Wednesday recused himself from hearing Delhi Riots accused Asif Tanha’s plea for a direction to the media to remove “sensitive” and “confidential” information allegedly leaked by the Delhi Police.

It is to be noted that Justice Amit Sharma is the second judge to recuse himself from the case.

After the National Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) filed an intervention application, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani recused himself from hearing the case on Tuesday. This application was filed after Justice Bhambhani had heard the matter for several days.

When the case came up before Justice Sharma today, he ordered it to be placed before another bench.

“List this matter before another bench on April 24, subject to obtaining the orders of the Chief Justice,” Justice Sharma directed.

The case has been rescheduled for April 24, 2023.

In August 2020, the plea was filed, following media reports on Tanha’s “disclosure statement” to the Delhi Police.

According to the plea, the chargesheet in his case was read out on Zee News full six weeks before it was filed in the court.

According to reports, Tanha conceded that the riots were planned and that former JNU student Umar Khalid had asked Tanha to hold a ‘chakka jam’ in coordination with other members of the Jamia Coordination Committee.

Tanha approached the Delhi high court, claiming that the information was leaked by Delhi Police and that an investigation into the misconduct of the official who leaked the information to media platforms such as OpIndia, Zee Media, Facebook, and YouTube was necessary.

He contended that such leaks were detrimental to a fair trial because they tainted the minds of the judge and the public.

He accused the Delhi Police of malicious intent, claiming that the leaked information has no evidentiary value.

Tanha has also asked for guidelines on media reporting of ongoing criminal investigations.