The Allahabad High Court on Monday ordered the release of a section of convicts, undertrials and those in jail for failing to pay fines in...
The Allahabad High Court on Monday ordered the release of a section of convicts, undertrials and those in jail for failing to pay fines in order to unclog prisons in Uttar Pradesh amid the surge of coronavirus cases, ANI reported.
Judicial officers have been directed to release them on a parole or on final bail. The court also extended relief period of prisoners who are already on parole by another 60 days.
The decision came after the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh last week wrote to acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Sanjay Yadav on the matter, Live Law reported. In the letter, council Chairman RK Agarwal urged for interim bail or parole to those facing trials or have been sentenced to a jail term of seven years, or less.
Agarwal, in his letter, pointed out media reports “indicating doubling of infection during the last two weeks” after several inmates tested positive as Covid-19 protocols were flouted in jails.
“The need of the hour in such unprecedented circumstance of the pandemic calls for consideration of interim bail/ parole for the under trial/ convict, not based upon legal considerations arising out of statutory right for bail, but more in the nature of human right to safeguard the life and health of the prisoners,” Agarwal...
