March 03, 2026 : A Delhi court has directed the immediate release of students arrested in connection with a protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University, holding that administrative formalities cannot be used to keep individuals in custody after bail has already been granted.

The students had secured bail earlier, but their release was held up due to pending verification of sureties and residential details. Taking a firm view of the delay, the magistrate observed that such verification is a procedural safeguard and not a justification for continued detention.

The court made it clear that once a competent court grants bail, the purpose of that order cannot be frustrated by incomplete paperwork. It stressed that verification processes are meant to ensure compliance with bail conditions and cannot operate as a form of indirect punishment.

Referring to the constitutional guarantee of personal liberty under Article 21, the court cautioned that allowing procedural delays to prolong custody would undermine fundamental rights. Continued detention after the grant of bail, it noted, defeats the very object of judicial relief.

Accordingly, the authorities were directed to release the accused students without further delay, while ensuring that bail conditions are adhered to during the course of the trial.

The case stems from a protest on the JNU campus that reportedly led to clashes and subsequent arrests. While the criminal proceedings will continue in accordance with law, the court underscored that personal liberty cannot be held hostage to administrative lag.