The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed custody parole to Baramulla Member of Parliament (MP) Engineer Rashid to attend the ongoing budget session of the parliament from February 11 to February 13..Rashid is currently in jail in a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).Justice Vikas Mahajan allowed custody parole to Rashid subject to strict restrictions."He shall not use any phone, mobile, landline, no access to the internet and he shall not interact with any person or address the media," the Court directed..The Court was hearing a plea moved by Rashid for quick resolution of his pending bail plea before the trial court. He also sought interim bail to attend the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament..Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court, which had heard and reserved order on his bail plea, released the matter after stating that only a designated MP/MLA Court can hear the MP's case.This led to a confusion as to which court would be entitled to hear his bail plea - the NIA court or the MP/MLA court. Rashid told the High Court that the NIA Court refused to hear his bail plea as it was not the designated MP/MLA Court which hears cases against lawmakers. This left him remediless, he said.The High Court then sought clarification from the Supreme Court on which court should hear the bail plea. In the meanwhile, it proceeded to order his limited release on custody parole to attend the parliament.The issue regarding the jurisdiction of NIA court and MP/MLA court will be heard on Tuesday.Senior Advocate N Hariharan appeared for Rashid. Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra represented NIA.
