The Delhi High Court has permitted activist and doctoral researcher Natasha Narwal to travel to the United Kingdom from November 2 to December 1, 2026, to attend an international academic conference and meet her PhD supervisors. Justice Amit Bansal passed the order on October 16, 2026, setting aside the trial court’s refusal to grant travel permission.
Background
Narwal approached the High Court through two petitions challenging orders dated October 6, 2026, passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Shahdara District, Karkardooma Courts. The trial court had rejected her requests to travel abroad in two pending criminal cases.
Narwal is pursuing a PhD in Law at the University of Warwick, UK, where she enrolled in October 2023. She sought permission to present her research paper, Gendered Carceral Labour as Social Reproduction, at a conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, scheduled for November 5–8, 2026. She also intended to meet her doctoral supervisors and participate in on-campus academic activities.
The State opposed the request, arguing that the academic objectives could be achieved virtually and raising concerns about the possibility of her seeking asylum in the UK.
Justice Amit Bansal considered the academic documents submitted in support of the request and noted that Narwal had pursued her doctorate remotely for nearly three years. The Court also observed that she had been on bail since 2021 and that no violation of her bail conditions had been alleged.
Referring to the Supreme Court's ruling in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the High Court recognised the constitutional significance of the right to travel abroad.
The Court observed:
“The fact that the petitioner has been charged of serious offences under the UAPA does not curtail her right to travel abroad in a blanket manner.”
It further held:
“Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this Court is inclined to permit the petitioner to travel to United Kingdom albeit with suitable safeguards.”
The High Court allowed both petitions and permitted Narwal to travel from November 2 to December 1, 2026, subject to conditions. She and her brother must undertake that she will return on December 2, will not apply for asylum in the UK, and will not comment on the merits of the pending cases during her stay.
She must furnish a cumulative personal bond of ₹1 lakh with her brother as surety, submit her visa, flight tickets and itinerary to the investigating officer before departure, and surrender her passport within 48 hours of returning.
The Court directed the trial court to release her passport and suspended any Look Out Circular against her for the permitted travel period.
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