A Division Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh after recommendations of a high powered committee has extended the period of release for 2177 under trial prisoners, who were earlier released on interim bail in a bid to decongest city jails.
The Committee had laid down several criterion for grant of interim bail to under trial prisoners to decongest jails.
Given the fact that the status of the pandemic was still the same and lockdown had also been extended, the Committee had recommended that interim bail which was extended to 2177 UTPs be extended for a further period of 45 days.
Since it was not possible to move individual applications before concerned courts for extension, the matter was placed before the High Court for an appropriate order.
Director General (Prisons), as well as the Delhi Police, did not object to the extension of interim bail period. The Court has directed Director General (Prisons) to ensure that the order is conveyed to all the 2177 UTPs by telephone, as well as, through all other available modes.
The Court accordingly ordered,
..the interim bails for a period of 45 days granted to 2177 UTPs, in view of the recommendations of HPC dated 28.03.2020, 07.04.2020 and 18.04.2020 and on the basis of orders in WP (C) No.2945/2020 titled as “Shobha Gupta & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors.” are hereby extended by another period of 45 days from the date of their respective expiry of interim bails on the same terms and conditions.
Read Order here:
