Delhi HC dismisses AISA chief Neha Bora’s plea against Rs 10,000 peace bond notice

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 24, 2026: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by All India Students Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora challenging a notice directing her to execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety to maintain peace during an ongoing inquiry.

Justice Subramonium Prasad rejected the plea, observing that “adequate safeguards” were in place. However, the court directed the Special Executive Magistrate to provide Bora with all relevant material before passing any order in the inquiry.

The order came a day after the court reserved its verdict on Thursday following more than two-and-a-half hours of detailed arguments.

During the hearing, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Bora, argued that calling for regime change was not wrong in a democracy and that citizens did not require prior permission to hoist the national flag. He submitted that Bora had called for a peaceful gathering at Mandi House on October 16 and was detained within minutes of arriving, despite not having committed any offence.

Representing the Delhi Police, the Additional Solicitor General argued that regime change must take place through the ballot and not through the gathering of “lumpen elements” in the national capital.

The notice under challenge was issued on October 17 under Sections 126 and 130, read with Section 135(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), following Bora’s detention at Mandi House during a protest linked to the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march.

Bora had argued that the notice was vague, factually incorrect and intended to restrict peaceful dissent. The police, meanwhile, cited alleged sloganeering, repeated protests near Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, and allegations that she had instigated a demonstration at Connaught Place.

While refusing to quash the preventive proceedings, the High Court directed the magistrate to carefully consider the applicable statutory provisions and ensure that due process was followed.