Activist Natasha Narwal got interim bail from the Delhi High Court on Monday morning to perform the last rites of her father, Mahavir Narwall - a senior member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
He died Sunday after contracting the novel coronavirus.
Ms Narwal was arrested last year for alleged conspiracy linked to the Delhi riots that raged through the national capital in February 2020. A case was filed against her under the stringent anti-terror law - the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. She is associated with a Delhi-based group called "Pinjra Tod" that fights for women's rights.
Natasha Narwal's brother, Aakash, is also in isolation after he tested positive for coronavirus. "Therefore, there is nobody else in the family to perform the last rites and cremation," the court observed.
"In the interest of justice, we are of the view that the release of applicant is imperative in this hour of grief and personal loss," the court further said.
She has been granted bail for three weeks and Delhi Police did not oppose her plea.
She has been asked by the court to "furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000" and to refrain from speaking about the case. "She should surrender herself upon the completion of three weeks interim bail period with an RT-PCR Covid test result," the court has said.
Mahavir Narwal could not speak to his daughter before his death, news agency PTI reported, citing sources close to the family.
Condolences poured in on social media as leaders paid last respects to Mr Narwal, a scientist.
"Unbelievably tragic, @harsh_mander. It is so sad to see our Indian democracy reduced to this state. Bail, not jail, used to be the mantra in such cases. What is happening to our human values that a daughter imprisoned for a political protest isn't allowed to meet her dying father?" the Congress's Shashi Tharoor tweeted.
"Extend my deep condolences to Natasha and her brother Aakash. The terrible injustice of the system in which a daughter wrongly locked up for a year unable to see her father even for a final farewell," CPI-M's Brinda Karat said.
The CPI-M hit out at the central government over Ms Narwal's arrest in its condolence message.
Amid unprecedented surge in Covid cases across the country, many activists have called for release of political prisoners.
This morning, India recorded 3.66 lakh cases in yet another huge spike.
New XEC Covid Variant Spreads To 27 Countries, Here's What We Know So Far Study Shows How Long Covid Is Debilitating Children's Health From FLiRT To FLuQE: What To Know About The Latest Covid Variants AR Rahman, Wife Saira Announce Separation After 29 Years Of Marriage Amid Souring Ties With India, Canada's Latest Move Inconveniences Fliers Air India Flight From Paris Diverted To Jaipur, Fliers Sent To Delhi On Bus Don't Say His Name - Donald Trump Is The Voldemort Of G20 Summit Elon Musk's 6th SpaceX Rocket Soars As Trump Watches On WHO Approves Second Mpox Vaccine For Emergency Use Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.