Supreme Court refuses to relax bail terms for Delhi riots accused Shadab Ahmad to attend law classes

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Published 26 October 2026

Case: Shadab Ahmad v. State of NCT of Delhi
Court: Supreme Court of India
Source: Verdictum

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)

In Shadab Ahmad v. State of NCT of Delhi, the Supreme Court refused to modify a bail condition preventing the accused from leaving Delhi to attend law classes in Ghaziabad. The counsel withdrew the plea with liberty to approach the trial court for relief.

Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established

The Supreme Court declined to interfere with the bail condition imposed by the High Court, suggesting that the appropriate forum for seeking relaxation of such conditions is the trial court.

Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates

Advocates seeking modification of bail conditions should first approach the trial court that imposed the conditions. Litigants must adhere strictly to bail conditions unless formally modified by a competent court.

Key Legal Takeaways

1Supreme Court generally defers to trial courts for initial modification of bail conditions.
2Accused persons must seek formal modification of bail conditions before violating them.
3The appropriate forum for seeking relaxation of bail conditions is typically the trial court.

The Legal Issue Shadab Ahmad, an accused in the Delhi riots case, sought relaxation of a bail condition imposed by the Delhi High Court. The condition prohibited him from leaving the National Capital Territory of Delhi without prior permission. Ahmad wished to attend law classes in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and therefore sought a modification of this condition from the Supreme Court.

Court's Reasoning The Supreme Court, after hearing the matter, indicated its disinclination to modify the bail condition. The Court suggested that the appropriate course of action for the petitioner would be to approach the trial court that is seized of the matter. The counsel for Shadab Ahmad then sought and was granted permission to withdraw the petition, with liberty to move the trial court for the desired relief.

What Follows The petitioner, Shadab Ahmad, is now at liberty to approach the trial court to seek a modification of his bail condition, allowing him to travel outside Delhi to attend law classes in Ghaziabad. The Supreme Court did not issue any specific directions to the trial court but implicitly affirmed that the trial court is the proper forum for such requests.