New Delhi, January 28, 2026 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday scheduled April 22 for hearing the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) appeal seeking the death penalty for separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. The court granted the central agency four weeks to file its rejoinder to Malik’s reply, calling it the “last opportunity”.
A bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja observed that there was no urgency in the matter, noting that the appeal concerns enhancement of sentence and Malik is already serving a life term.
“There is no urgency. This is for enhancement of sentence. You are already on life sentence,” the bench remarked.
Malik, chief of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), appeared virtually from Tihar Jail, where he is lodged. During the hearing, he accused the NIA of repeatedly seeking adjournments and causing him “trauma” by delaying the appeal filed in 2023. The NIA, however, rejected the allegation, stating that Malik himself took nearly a year to file his reply.
The NIA informed the court that Malik had filed a lengthy response, portions of which were not directly related to the case, and the agency’s rejoinder was still under vetting. The agency also sought an in-camera hearing in the sensitive matter.
Yasin Malik was awarded life imprisonment by a Delhi trial court on May 24, 2022, after being convicted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a terror funding case. In 2023, the NIA approached the High Court seeking enhancement of the sentence to capital punishment.
In its plea, the NIA argued that granting leniency to “dreaded terrorists” merely because they pleaded guilty would erode the country’s sentencing policy and provide a way to escape the maximum punishment. The agency maintained that life imprisonment was not commensurate with the gravity of Malik’s crimes, especially considering the loss of lives of soldiers and civilians, and termed the trial court’s finding that the case did not fall under the “rarest of rare” category as legally unsustainable.
In his reply, Malik claimed that for nearly three decades he had been part of a state-sanctioned “backchannel” process, engaging with prime ministers, intelligence officials and other influential figures to promote peace in Jammu and Kashmir. In an 85-page affidavit, he detailed his personal journey, including his early life, alleged links, and meetings with political leaders, asserting that the state was now attempting to “erase” this history of engagement.
The matter will now come up for detailed consideration before the High Court on April 22.
