Bombay High Court Grants Elgar Parishad Accused Teltumbde Conditional Permission for Virtual Lectures

In a closely watched development concerning the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, the Bombay High Court has granted Anand Teltumbde, one of the accused, permission to deliver virtual lectures for a course at the Goa Institute of Management (GIM). The court's ruling, delivered recently, however, explicitly denied his plea for physical attendance, reiterating its stance on supervised interaction.

Teltumbde, currently out on bail, had sought the court's nod to participate as a resource person for a course titled 'Data Analytics for Social Sciences' at GIM.

While the court acknowledged the academic nature of his request, it firmly rejected the proposition of his physical presence at the institute. Instead, the bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse stipulated that Teltumbde must conduct all his sessions virtually.

Crucially, the High Court laid down stringent conditions to accompany this permission.

The bench emphasized that Teltumbde should not use this opportunity for any form of 'propaganda' and strictly limited his interactions with students and faculty to purely academic discussions. This directive underscores the judiciary's caution in balancing academic freedom with the ongoing legal proceedings of a sensitive case.

Teltumbde's initial application had sought permission for physical travel to Goa to deliver the lectures.

This request was previously denied, and the court's latest order reinforces its earlier decision. This is not the first instance where Teltumbde has sought court's permission for personal matters; he was previously allowed to travel for his daughter's wedding in December of the preceding year, albeit under strict surveillance.

The Elgar Parishad case, which dates back to the Bhima Koregaon violence in 2018, involves multiple activists and academics accused of having Maoist links.

Teltumbde was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in November 2022, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court. The conditions of his bail restrict his movements and activities, making court permissions necessary for any significant departure from his routine.

This latest ruling reflects the court's meticulous approach to managing the rights and obligations of an accused out on bail, particularly when academic engagements are involved.

By permitting virtual lectures, the court allows Teltumbde to contribute academically while maintaining tight control over his public interactions, thereby ensuring compliance with his bail conditions and mitigating any potential for misuse.