The court’s order, pronounced after 6 p.m. on Thursday, upheld a notice issued by the special executive magistrate’s office on Oct. 17 that demanded Bora appear before the magistrate and post a ₹10,000 bond with a surety.
Bora’s counsel, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, argued the notice was vague and factually incorrect, contending it failed to specify the event or likelihood of breach of peace and infringed her Articles 19 and 21 rights. She had been freed from police custody at 6 a.m. after being detained on Oct. 16 for a flag march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Cpolice lawyer Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma countered, citing 12 alleged violations by Bora and describing the proceedings as preventive. He noted her participation in a gathering where activists Prashant Bhushan and CJP leaders called for regime change.
Bora, 29, a theatre artist and doctoral student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, has been repeatedly detained and released during this month’s protests, often livestreaming from police buses and detention centres.
With the High Court’s rejection, Bora is now bound to comply with the bond and appear before the special executive magistrate, or risk further legal action.