The Supreme Court on Friday has allowed arrested Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan to meet his ailing mother through video conferencing.
A bench of Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, and Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists seeking the release of its Delhi Unit Secretary Siddique Kappan from the illegal detention of UP Police while he was on his way to report the Hathras incident.
During the hearing today, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought an adjournment in the matter.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Kappan said he has filed an application seeking Court’s permission to allow Kappan’s mother to see him through video conferencing as she is unwell.
The bench has allowed the application and list the matter for hearing on a non-miscellaneous day.
The petitioners have contented that the detention of Kappan is violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14,19 and 21 of the Constitution.
The petitioners have alleged that the detention was in violation of the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal and various other judgments of the Court.
It has been further submitted that the arrest was made with a view to obstruct the discharge of duty of Kappan in the capacity of a journalist.
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The petitioners have further submitted that neither the family members nor the colleagues of Kappan were informed about his arrest or the place of detention.