Supreme Court Postpones Siddique Kappan Passport Release Petition to November 2
- •The Supreme Court adjourned Siddique Kappan's passport release plea to November 2.
- •Uttar Pradesh Standing Counsel Ruchira Goel requested time to receive formal instructions.
- •The Bench overseeing the matter comprised Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.
NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court of India on Friday formally postponed its deliberations on a petition filed by Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan, which sought the release of his travel document, rescheduling the next court date to November 2. The bench, presided over by Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, opted to grant an adjournment following procedural delays concerning the submission of the application.
The legal maneuver centers on Kappan's ongoing efforts to secure his passport, an essential step for his professional mobility following a tumultuous period involving previous legal battles and detentions under stringent statutes in Uttar Pradesh. The intersection of press freedom, personal liberty, and state oversight has consistently placed Kappan's legal proceedings under intense national and international scrutiny.
According to reports by The Hindu, the proceedings hit a temporary procedural roadblock when Uttar Pradesh’s Standing Counsel, Ruchira Goel, informed the bench that the state machinery had received the application only hours prior. Arguing that adequate preparation was constitutionally and procedurally necessary, the counsel requested an extension to gather specific instructions from state authorities before presenting a formal response.
With the hearing now officially deferred to the early days of November, the legal teams for both sides are expected to prepare their definitive arguments regarding the conditions of the passport's release. The upcoming session on November 2 will determine whether the judiciary grants Kappan unrestricted travel capabilities, a decision that carries significant weight for his journalistic career moving forward.