A preventive action by Delhi Police against All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has reached the Delhi High Court, with the student leader seeking to quash a notice requiring her to furnish a Rs 10,000 bond to maintain peace during an enquiry.

The notice required Bora to execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000, backed by a surety, and appear before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) on October 19. According to AISA, the document was dated October 17 and issued on October 18 under Sections 126 and 130, read with Section 135(3), of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

In a statement on Monday, October 19, the association said Bora’s legal team had approached the High Court for urgent relief. The petition seeks a stay and withdrawal of the notice, which AISA has described as ambiguous, factually incorrect and a violation of her constitutional rights under Articles 19 and 21.

The association said its lawyers would also appear before the magistrate to respond to the proceedings and bring the High Court challenge to the authority’s attention.

AISA Links Notice to Election-Related Protests

The legal challenge comes amid demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters have raised concerns over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

AISA has alleged that the police proceedings against Bora are intended to deter peaceful demonstrations. It has also criticised the use of preventive restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS, which replaced Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, during the protests.

The organisation further claimed that police deployments and restrictions had affected transport and internet connectivity. These allegations form part of AISA’s account of the police response and have not been independently verified in the information available.

Questions Over Police Surveillance

AISA has also raised concerns about the alleged presence of plainclothes police personnel following Bora after her release from detention on October 16.

The association questioned whether the alleged monitoring was routine police procedure or an attempt to intimidate the student leader. The claims were included in its statement accompanying the announcement of the legal challenge.

Bora’s release came amid police action against protesters calling for Kumar’s resignation. The latest notice has added a legal dimension to the dispute over demonstrations and the use of preventive powers by the authorities.

AISA has said it will pursue the matter in court while continuing to oppose what it considers the misuse of legal provisions against protesters. The High Court’s consideration of the petition will determine the next stage of Bora’s challenge to the notice.