Delhi Court Approves Custody Parole for Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid to Attend Parliament Session
The Patiala House Court in Delhi has granted custody parole to Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, who serves as the Member of Parliament from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir. This decision permits him to attend the budget session of Parliament, scheduled to run from January 28 to April 2, 2026, whenever the session is active. The ruling comes as Engineer Rashid remains an accused in a terror funding case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) back in 2017, and he is currently held in judicial custody.
Legal Proceedings and Court Notices
Last week, the court issued a notice to the NIA in response to a plea filed by Engineer Rashid, seeking interim bail or custody parole specifically for the upcoming parliament budget session. Special NIA judge Prashant Sharma directed the agency to submit a reply, and the matter has been scheduled for a hearing on January 21. The application was formally moved through advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, with advocate Nishita Gupta representing Abdul Rashid Sheikh during the proceedings.
This is not the first instance where Engineer Rashid has been granted such permissions. Previously, he received custody parole to attend parliament sessions, take his oath as an MP following his election, and even vote in the Vice Presidential election last year. These allowances highlight the court's consideration of his parliamentary duties despite the ongoing legal case.
Pending Applications and High Court Developments
In addition to the current parole grant, Engineer Rashid has an application pending before the Delhi High Court that seeks modification of the costs associated with custody parole for attending parliament sessions. On November 7, a division bench of the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict on this application, and the matter is now awaiting resolution before a single-judge bench. This ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities of balancing judicial custody with parliamentary responsibilities.
Schedule of the Budget Session and Government Announcements
The budget session of Parliament is set to commence on January 28, 2026, as confirmed by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in a post on social media platform X. The session will extend until April 2, 2026, with a break in between: the first phase concludes on February 13, and Parliament will reassemble on March 9. Notably, the Union Budget for 2026 will be presented on February 1, which falls on a Sunday, marking a significant event in the parliamentary calendar.
Earlier this month, Minister Rijiju provided a detailed schedule for the budget session, noting that President Droupadi Murmu has approved summoning both Houses of Parliament based on the government's recommendation. This session is particularly important as it represents the first session of Parliament in the calendar year, traditionally beginning with the President's address to a joint sitting of the two Houses, setting the stage for legislative debates and governance initiatives.
The court's decision to grant custody parole to Engineer Rashid thus aligns with the timing of this crucial parliamentary period, ensuring his participation in democratic processes while he faces serious legal charges. The case continues to draw attention due to its implications for parliamentary privileges and judicial procedures in India.
