Azeem Khan Vs State Govt of NCT of Delhi — Narcotics (NDPS) | Delhi HC (2026)

Azeem Khan Vs State Govt of NCT of Delhi — Narcotics (NDPS) | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Time-bound reconsideration: Competent Authority requested to consider the punishment-ticket matter afresh in light of the discharge order dated 10.09.2025 and pass a reasoned order within four weeks, communicating the decision to the petitioner; petitioner retains liberty to file a fresh petition if aggrieved. The Court did not itself order recall of the punishment ticket.

Issue for consideration

Whether the punishment ticket recorded against the petitioner following his arrest during emergency parole (FIR No. 168/2021, Sections 21/29 NDPS Act) should be recalled, given that he has since been discharged in that case by discharge order dated 10.09.2025.

Court's answer

Petition disposed of with a request to the Competent Authority to consider the matter afresh in light of the discharge order dated 10.09.2025 and to pass an appropriate order while giving reasons.

Ratio / Principle

The decision of the Competent Authority is to be taken within a period of four weeks and duly communicated to the petitioner.

Key takeaways

If the petitioner is aggrieved by the decision of the Competent Authority, he would be at liberty to file a petition afresh before this Court.ratio¶30

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Manoj Jain, J.), 22.04.2026, disposed of W.P.(CRL) 2596/2023 filed by Azeem Khan. The petitioner had been released on 90-day emergency parole on 15.05.2021 and, allegedly, committed an offence punishable under Sections 21/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 during the parole, leading to registration of FIR No. 168/2021 on 25.08.2021 and a punishment ticket. Since the petitioner has since been discharged in that case (discharge order dated 10.09.2025 placed on record) and that discharge has not been challenged, the Court disposed of the petition with a request to the Competent Authority to consider the matter afresh in light of the discharge order and pass an appropriate reasoned order within four weeks, to be communicated to the petitioner, with liberty to file a petition afresh if aggrieved. A copy of the order was directed to be sent to the Superintendent, Jail for information and compliance.

$~87

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- W.P.(CRL) 2596/2023

AZEEM KHAN .....Petitioner

Through: Mr. Chetan Bhardwaj with Ms. Priyal Bhardwaj, Ms. Swati Gaur, Advocates.

versus

STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC with SI Nitin.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN

O R D E R

% 22.04.2026

CRL.M.A. 12413/2026

Exemption allowed, subject to all just exception.

CRL.M.A. 12412/2026 (early hearing)

For the reasons stated in the application, the application seeking early hearing is allowed and the present petition is taken up today itself, with the consent of learned counsel for both the sides.

Application stands disposed of.

Next date of 07.09.2026 stands cancelled.

W.P.(CRL) 2596/2023

The petitioner was on an emergency parole for a period of 90 days. During such parole, he, allegedly, committed an offence punishable under Section 21/29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 .

The punishment ticket indicates that the petitioner was released on emergency parole for a period of 90 days on 15.05.2021 and FIR No. 168/2021 for said offences was registered on 25.08.2021.

Fact, however, remains that the petitioner has already been discharged

W.P.(CRL) 2596/2023

1

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 25/04/2026 at 13:24:17

in the abovesaid case and copy of discharge order dated 10.09.2025 has also been placed on record. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that since petitioner has already been discharged in the abovesaid case, in which he was arrested during the emergency parole period, the punishment ticket needs to be recalled.

Mr. Bhandari, learned ASC submits that, since the abovesaid order of discharge has not been challenged, in view of the abovesaid significant development i.e. discharge of the accused, the competent authority can always be directed to reconsider the matter and, if required to recall the punishment ticket in question.

Learned counsel for petitioner submits that let there be a time-bound direction in this regard to the competent authority.

Petition is, accordingly, disposed of with request to Competent Authority to consider the matter afresh in light of the abovesaid discharge order dated 10.09.2025 and to pass appropriate order, while giving reasons. 10. Let the decision in this regard be taken within a period of four weeks. Needless to say, the decision in this regard would be duly communicated to the petitioner.

In case, the petitioner is aggrieved by such decision, he would be at liberty to file petition afresh before this Court.

The petition stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.

Pending application also stands disposed of.

A copy of this order be sent to Superintendent, Jail for information and compliance.

MANOJ JAIN, J

APRIL 22, 2026/ sw/pb

W.P.(CRL) 2596/2023

2

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 25/04/2026 at 13:24:17