MP Er Rashid Challenges ₹1.45 Lakh Daily Travel Cost to Attend Parliament

Srinagar: The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined an urgent hearing for Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, accused in a funding case, seeking a waiver of the condition to bear travel expenses for attending Parliament “in-custody.”

Rashid is currently in Tihar Jail as an accused in a ‘militant-funding’ case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He was arrested in 2019.

A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the application would be heard as scheduled on Friday. Rashid’s counsel clarified that he sought deletion of the expense condition, not a reduction in the amount provided by prison authorities.

Payment of travel expenses was a condition set by the Delhi High Court for Rashid, an undertrial in a ‘militant-funding case’, to attend Parliament. However, the court’s March 26 order did not specify the exact amount to be paid.

Rashid’s plea reads that his permission order was uploaded on March 26, and by evening, jail authorities informed him that he must pay Rs 1.45 lakh per day, totalling Rs 8.74 lakh for six days. He argued that the cost was excessive and hindered his constitutional duties. (KL)