M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Aug 4: The ‘Release undertrial prisoners @75’ is a campaign launched by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to thin out the inmates of jails which have more undertrials than convicts.
The release of the eligible undertrials is to commemorate the 75th Independence Day in India and hence it is abbreviated as the release of undertrials @75.
According to the data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau by 2020, 76 per cent of the inmates of the jails pan India are undertrials. It comes little over 3.70 crores.
Back in Palamu, this figure of the undertrial prisoners is on the upper side pegged at 799.
Sources said the Central Jail Daltonganj has invariably over 1,100 inmates on any of its days and the major occupants are the undertrials.
“75 is 75th Independence Day and the undertrials have a chance and luck to be out of the jail on this occasion but point to be remembered it is a release from the prison and not acquittal in the case. Hence it is a bail,” reminded the secretary of Palamu District Legal Services Authority Arpit Shrivastav.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, many undertrials were granted interim bail for the period of 45 days or 60 days with a rider that they would again return to their respective jails once their interim legal reprieve will be over. They did return dutifully. Now they stand a big chance to get released in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Again, the trial of the undertrial prisoners accused of any non-bailable offence eligible for release under 437 (6) of the CrPC, has not been concluded within a period of 60 days from the first date fixed for taking evidence in the case, is eligible for the release from the prison.
There is a set procedure for the release which includes identification, shortlisting and then the respective courts taking a final call on the release.
Any undertrial prisoner detained under sections 107, 108, 109 and 151 of CrPC can now look forward to his release from prison.
Palamu is notorious for illicit liquor and drugs too. There is an underbelly to this crime.
This release of the undertrials from prison applies to those who are booked under sections 19 or 24 or 27A or for offences involving commercial quantity of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985 and where the investigation is not completed in 60, 90 or 180 days have a fair opportunity to bask in the @75 release from the prison.
This campaign started on/from July 22 and it is to conclude on August 15 and there is a strong hope of 160 undertrial prisoners getting released from prison here only to fight their cases in their respective courts in times to come.
