Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Delhi HC Seeks Response on Imam’s PhD Access Plea
Sharjeel Imam is in jail while facing a case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
He is also trying to finish his PhD.
His research documents are stored on a pen drive.
Jail officials have objected to letting him use the pen drive.
Imam suggested that staff could check the files first.
He also offered to use a computer without internet inside the prison.
Delhi Police said it did not oppose this supervised arrangement.
The Delhi High Court has asked the jail authorities to explain their position before the next hearing.
The Delhi High Court sought the Tihar jail authorities’ response to Sharjeel Imam’s request to access research material stored on a pen drive.
Imam proposed using a standalone, internet-free computer under prison staff supervision.
His lawyer said Imam was in the final year of his PhD when he was arrested and that his synopsis was approved by the UGC and JNU.
Delhi Police said it did not oppose supervised access, but jail authorities had objected to the pen drive.
Justice Sanjeev Narula directed the authorities to file a status report and scheduled the next hearing for November 2.
- Who
- The Delhi High Court, Sharjeel Imam, his lawyers, Delhi Police, and Tihar jail authorities.
- What
- The court sought the jail authorities’ response to Imam’s request for supervised access to PhD research material on a pen drive.
- When
- The order was issued on Monday, September 28; the next hearing is scheduled for November 2.
- Where
- The matter is before the Delhi High Court and concerns access inside Tihar prison.
- Why
- Imam says he needs the research material to complete his PhD, which was delayed by his incarceration.
Supervised Academic Access
Prison-Controlled Access
Use of the pen drive
Supervised Academic Access
Imam’s side proposed that jail authorities scrutinize the material and transfer it to an internet-free computer under supervision.
Prison-Controlled Access
Tihar jail authorities objected to access to the pen drive, although the reports do not specify their detailed reasons.
Delhi Police position
Supervised Academic Access
The prosecution said the request could be allowed if Imam showed the authorities the material he wanted to access.
Prison-Controlled Access
The matter remains subject to the jail authorities’ response and status report ordered by the High Court.
- Applicant
- Sharjeel Imam
- Court
- Delhi High Court
- Judge
- Justice Sanjeev Narula
- Requested access
- Research material stored on a pen drive
- Proposed safeguards
- A standalone computer without internet, with supervision by jail staff
- Next hearing
- November 2
- Related case
- A UAPA case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots
