Neha Bora refuses to sign peace bond, says it is being used to crush dissent

NEW DELHI: All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) PhD scholar Neha Bora said at a press conference that she would not sign a peace bond and would continue to challenge the proceedings, alleging that the measure was being used to suppress dissent and the right to peaceful protest.

“We will not sign any peace bond. We will continue to challenge it. Peace bond is being used as a tool to crush dissent and the right to peaceful protests in a democracy,” Bora said.

The proceedings follow Bora’s detention on October 16 while she was heading to a protest against electoral roll revisions near Mandi House and Jantar Mantar in Delhi, despite prohibitory orders.

Bora had approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash a notice issued against her under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which provides for security for keeping the peace in certain circumstances.

The High Court rejected her plea to quash the notice but directed the magistrate to provide the relevant materials and consider safeguards in the proceedings.

At the press conference, Bora reiterated her opposition to the peace bond, arguing that such proceedings could be used to restrict peaceful protest and dissent.