‘Reflects poorly on judiciary that it took two years to grant liberty to Kappan’: The Hindu editorial

An editorial in the Hindu today lauded the Supreme Court for bypassing “the bail-denying feature of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act” to grant bail to journalist Siddique Kappan.

Crediting Chief Justice of India UU Lalit for not citing section 43D(5) of the UAPA, the editorial said: “The bail order demonstrates how a clear-headed approach can help judges relieve officials and political leaders of their smug belief that by invoking anti-terror laws, they can keep disfavoured accused in prison for long years without any basis.”