Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid has approached the Delhi High Court, requesting a waiver on the requirement to pay ₹1.45 lakh per day for travel expenses to attend the ongoing Parliamentary session, which concludes on April 4.
The condition was set by a division bench on March 25, permitting Rashid to attend Parliament while remaining in custody. The order specified that the cost of travel and related arrangements would be borne by him.
In an urgent plea, Rashid has argued that he is financially incapable of arranging such a large sum. He stated that on March 26, his legal counsel received an email from jail authorities demanding a payment of ₹1,45,736 per day, amounting to ₹8,74,416 for six days.
"The cost now being sought by the Jail Authorities is excessively high, and the Applicant is not in a financial position to bear the same," Rashid's plea states. He further emphasized that he has been in custody since August 9, 2019, and lacks the means to afford such exorbitant expenses.
The matter was raised today before a division bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. However, the court refused to grant an urgent hearing. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who was also on the bench, stated that since the application had already been filed, it would be taken up as per the normal schedule.
Rashid’s counsel clarified that his request was for the complete removal of the payment condition rather than just a reduction in the amount imposed by prison authorities.
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"The Applicant is not seeking to attend Parliament for personal reasons but to fulfill his constitutional duty. He should not be burdened with such excessive costs," the plea further argues.
Rashid, who was elected from the Baramulla constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has been in Tihar Jail since 2019. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case.
His plea before the Delhi High Court highlights concerns over financial constraints and seeks a fair resolution so he can discharge his parliamentary duties without undue financial hardship.
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Title: Abdul Rashid Sheikh v. NIA
