7/11 Mumbai Train Blasts: Bombay HC Denies Convict’s Petition To Appear For LLB Exam

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by a convict in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case, seeking the Court’s permission to appear for his second year of LLB exams, which are scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Ehtesham Siddiqui, the petitioner, was one of five people convicted in connection with the seven serial blasts that rocked Mumbai’s suburban network on July 11, 2006. The explosions killed 189 people and injured 800 more.

The Special Court sentenced Siddiqui and four others to death in 2015 under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crimes Act (MCOCA). The confirmation of the same is pending before the High Court.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and RN Laddha on Wednesday stated that because exams are scheduled to begin tomorrow, the prison authorities may not be able to arrange for an escort and bring him from Nagpur to Mumbai on such short notice.

The Court was informed that Siddiqui must obtain permission from the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police before proceeding to the High Court.

Avdhoot Chimalker, Special Public Prosecutor, showed the Court a notification dated February 10, 2022, issued by the State Home Department, which directed that prisoners first approach the DIG with their request.

Chimalkar informed the Court that, “He should have approached the jail authorities with the request so that arrangements could have been made (by now).”

The Court agreed with the contention and also stated that even if they do grant him permission, the prison authorities will need time to arrange for an escort and bring him from Nagpur to Mumbai on such short notice of one day.

The bench directed Siddiqui to follow the proper procedure of first approaching the DIG and asked him to take his chance for the next round of exams.

Siddiqui began his LLB degree course at Mumbai’s Siddharth Law College as an undertrial. In 2015, he finished the first year out of the three-year LLB course. He was transferred to Nagpur Central Prison shortly after his conviction.

He again decided to continue with his incomplete course and discovered that the third semester examinations (first semester of second year) were scheduled from February 2 to 8, 2023.

The college also informed him that they would issue his exam hall ticket once the court ordered it. He then approached the High Court by way of the present petition.