Delhi HC Grants NIA Final Extension in Yasin Malik Death Penalty Appeal

• The Delhi High Court has given the National Investigation Agency (NIA) a final four-week extension to file its rejoinder in the appeal seeking the death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik.
• A division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja renotified the matter for April 22, stating there was no "immediate urgency" as Malik is already serving a life sentence.
• The NIA's appeal challenges a May 2022 trial court judgment that sentenced Malik to life imprisonment for UAPA and IPC offenses, but did not award the death penalty, deeming his crimes not in the "rarest of rare" category.
• The agency argues that the life sentence is "grossly inadequate" and undermines national security, especially for "dreaded terrorists" who plead guilty.
• Yasin Malik, appearing virtually from Tihar Jail, claimed he acted as a "backchannel" for Indian Prime Ministers for peace in Kashmir and expressed readiness to face the death penalty.

Why It Matters: Delhi HC grants NIA more time for Yasin Malik's death penalty appeal, citing no immediate urgency.