Summary: Jasir Bilal Wani, arrested by the NIA, wanted to meet with his lawyer. The court told him to follow the correct steps first.
Jasir Bilal Wani was arrested on November 17, 2025, in Srinagar. The arrest was related to several serious charges, including under laws about illegal activities and explosives. He was kept in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) until November 27, 2025.
Wani's lawyer tried to meet him at the NIA Headquarters on November 20, 2025. The meeting was denied because there was no permission from the Sessions Court. The lawyer then applied to the District & Sessions Judge for permission, but the application wasn’t officially recorded.
"The petitioner’s basic right to meet a lawyer of his choice while in custody has been denied," argued Wani's lawyer.
The court, led by Judge Swarana Kanta Sharma, looked into the case. The NIA argued that Wani hadn’t tried all available legal options before going to the High Court. The court agreed, noting there was no official record of the application being rejected by the Sessions Judge.
Judge Sharma instructed Wani's lawyer to go back to the Sessions Court with the right paperwork. If the Sessions Judge was satisfied with the documents, they should make a decision on the application quickly.
"The law and procedure cannot be changed to fit a party’s worries or assumptions," said the court.
The court dismissed the request, stressing the importance of following the correct legal steps. Wani's team was told to make sure all steps were properly followed at the Sessions Court level first.
