Delhi HC directs NIOS to change exam centre of riots accused to Mandoli jail

New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to change Delhi riots case accused Saleem Khan's examination Centre to Mandoli jail.
Saleem Khan is an accused in the larger Conspiracy of Delhi Riots 2020 case. He sought 4 weeks interim bail for preparation of the class 12 examination and to appear in the same scheduled to be commenced on October 29.
A division bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla directed the NIOS to change the exam centre of the accused to Mandoli Jail where he is currently lodged.
"Keeping in view that the examination of the appellant is scheduled to start, at the request of the learned counsel for the appellant, we direct the NIOS to change the examination centre of the appellant to Mandoli Jail," the bench directed on Friday.
The High Court directed that as the appellant is in custody, he shall deposit the stipulated charges for the same within a week from today, by himself or through any representative.
However, we make it clear that the centre shall be changed by the NIOS without insisting on the pre-deposit of this amount, the bench said.
The bench noted that the counsel for Saleem Khan stated that the centre for the appellant to give his examination can be changed and it is at his request that this Order has been passed.
The trial court had dismissed his application for interim bail noting that there is already an examination Centre of NIOS in Mandoli Jail.
Advocate Gautam Khazanchi counsel for the appellant submitted that there is no reason why his application for interim bail for appearing in the examination should have been rejected by the learned Trial Court.
He submitted that the examination is scheduled to be held between October 29 to November 26, 2024.
On the other hand, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad Submitted that by a Communication of 22.10.2024, the NIOS has informed that there is an examination centre in Mandoli Jail itself, and the centre of the appellant can be changed to the said centre, where he can appear for his theory examination.
The said centre can be changed either at the request of the appellant himself or at the direction of this Court, he added.
He also submitted that therefore, there is no reason for enlarging the appellant on interim bail, when his appeal against rejection of the bail is listed before this court on November 25.
Earlier, he was granted interim bail on different grounds. (ANI)