Ehtesham Hashmi, a Supreme Court advocate and human rights activist, has died.

Ehtesham Hashmi, a human rights activist and Supreme Court counsel, passed suddenly this morning from a heart attack. Hashmi has a reputation for championing a number of human rights topics.
He oversaw a team that produced a fact-finding report regarding the sectarian unrest that rocked Tripura in 2021. In response to the report’s release, the Tripura police charged him under the UAPA. Later, the Supreme Court issued a directive prohibiting the use of coercive measures against him, including arrest.
Additionally, he had petitioned the Supreme Court in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case to have internet shutdowns deemed “unconstitutional, unlawful, and unenforceable.” The petition aimed to halt arbitrary internet shutdowns in India, especially in light of anti-CAA demonstrations.

This news is written by Mr. Manpreet Rathor, Research Assistant, All India Legal Forum.