Protesters are not terrorists

Delhi High Court raises the bar on UAPA application

The three Delhi High Court orders granting bail to three student activists mark a critical turning point in the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). By stipulating a stricter standard for defining acts of terrorism, the high court has indirectly upheld the right to protest guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution and prevent the escalating misuse of this 53-year-old Act to incarcerate citizens who challenge the government’s policies. By the Ministry of Home Affairs’ own data, 2019 saw a 72 per cent jump in arrests under the UAPA over 2015. It is no coincidence that 2019 was