'Won't sign': Neha Bora defies Delhi Police peace bond notice after HC setback

NEW DELHI: All India Students' Association president Neha Bora on Saturday said she would not sign a bond to "keep peace" before a special executive magistrate, a day after the Delhi high court dismissed her plea challenging the police notice directing her to furnish a Rs 10,000 bond with a surety."We don't have any conditions. We are not going to sign the bond," Bora said.Bora had moved the high court, arguing that the notice was vague, factually incorrect and unsupported by material establishing the likelihood of a breach of peace.She alleged that the proceedings were a "colourable exercise of preventive powers to suppress peaceful dissent, in violation of Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b) and 21 of Constitution".During Thursday's hearing, Bora's counsel argued that citizens did not need permission to hoist the national flag, referring to the police notice alleging that she had hoisted it without valid permission.The notice, issued on October 17 under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), directed Bora to appear before the magistrate on October 19 and explain why she should not execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety "for keeping peace for a period of enquiry".

Bora was taken into preventive detention on October 16 while on her way to participate in the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march at Central Park in Connaught Place. She was released the following day.According to her petition, the police initiated proceedings over alleged sloganeering at Mandi House on October 16, repeated protests around Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, and allegations that she had instigated people to join a demonstration at Connaught Place that day.

"The impugned notice rests on a prima facie incorrect fact, namely that the petitioner instigated people to participate in the demonstration at Central Park, CP on Oct 16. The petitioner's call and the incident alleged were different. The petitioner called for a peaceful gathering at Mandi House at 5.00 pm on Oct 16, and it is a matter of record that she was detained from Mandi House," Bora's petition stated.