The Delhi High court ordered the Delhi government, the DG (Prisons), and the police to implement a system by which records related to undertrials held in jails is made available to the public.
An order passed by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mitral and Justice C. Hari Shankar asked DG (Prisons), the District Judge (Headquarters), and the Delhi police to submit suggestions and devise a system by which information related to undertrials is made available immediately.
The court was hearing a case that was initiated by it based on a letter received from a Supreme Court Judge Justice Kurian Joseph in 2015 which highlighted that a large number of women undertrials were languishing in Delhi’s Tihar Jail without trial for long periods.
A committee had been set up by the court to examine the issue. After reviewing the suggestions available, the committee submitted a consolidated report last week on December 11.
String of guidelines
The report offers numerous guidelines in regards to preparation and updating of records related to undertrial prisoners.
The report has suggested different responsibilities for the court, the legal service officials, and the jail authorities with respect to updating records of undertrial prisoners such that there is no delay in their release.
The court observed that if such directions were implemented it would go a “long way to ensure the rights of the prisoners”.
The SC has fixed the next hearing on the matter on January 15 next year.
