The Supreme Court has granted regular bail to Alem la Jamir, a leader linked to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM), after she spent more than six years in custody under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A Bench of Supreme Court of India Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh passed the order while hearing Jamir’s appeal against the denial of bail by the Delhi High Court. The top court noted that a substantial part of the trial had already been completed and that several prosecution witnesses had been examined.
While granting relief, the Bench observed that Jamir had remained in jail for an unduly long period without the trial reaching its conclusion. The judges also took note of the fact that she is a woman. “Many of the witnesses have already been examined, and the appellant has been in incarceration for over six years. We also take note of the fact that the appellant herein is a lady. Taking all of the above into consideration, we are inclined to grant bail,” the court said in its order. 
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Tanveer Ahmed Mir appeared on behalf of Jamir, while Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Singh Bhati represented the investigating agency. During the hearing, Sibal argued that the case registered by the National Investigation Agency was false and that keeping Jamir in custody for years without completing the trial was unjust and unfair. The prosecution, however, opposed bail, pointing to her alleged senior role within the organisation.
Jamir was arrested in 2019 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after the agency claimed she was carrying Rs 72 lakh in cash, allegedly meant to fund activities of NSCN(IM). She was booked under multiple sections of the UAPA, the Indian Penal Code, and the Arms Act.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had denied her bail, citing the possibility of witness tampering and her alleged involvement in terror funding. Jamir has consistently maintained that NSCN(IM) is not a banned organisation and functions under agreements signed with the Government of India.
