The Hindu : Front Page : Relief in sight for undertrials in State

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Thursday, Sep 13, 2007
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Relief in sight for undertrials in State

Satyasundar Barik

A list being prepared following a High Court order

BHUBANESWAR: Undertrial prisoners, who have been languishing in different jails of the State for long, can expect some good news as the Government has set in motion the process of identifying such inmates who will be released on bail or personal bond.

“We have asked superintendents of jails to furnish details of undertrial prisoners, who are accused of minor offences but lodged in the jails for longer period. They will be considered for release upon furnishing personal bond,” Inspector General of Police (Prisons) V. Thiagarajan told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The process was initiated following a recent order of the Orissa High Court that asked the authorities to prepare a list of all undertrial prisoners who were charged with offences punishable by imprisonment for less than seven years, but were in custody for more than one year.

In the case of an accused having undergone two years of imprisonment for offences punishable with seven years or less and if the trials for such offences were pending for two years or more and the accused concerned had not been released on bail, then the criminal court concerned should release the accused on bail or personal bond, the High Court observed.

The High Court laid emphasis on release of undertrials who are still in custody despite the bail orders in their favour.

“Following the HC direction, we have issued direction to all jail superintendents and asked them to submit the report in three months,” Mr. Thiagarajan said.

Jails overcrowded

About 70 jails of the State now house as many as 10,860 undertrials of which 542 are female.

Similarly, there are 4378 convicts who are undergoing imprisonment. It clearly shows that the jails are overcrowded with undertrial prisoners.

Meanwhile, an internal committee was constituted under chairmanship of IG (Prison) to discuss implementation of model prison manual that was formulated by the Union Government in 2003. The State Government is expected to submit a report in this regard to the Centre by December.

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