SC takes cognizance of delay in prisoners' release after bail

New Delhi, July 15 The Supreme Court has taken a suo motu cognisance of delay in release of convicts after grant of bail.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and A.S. Bopanna, will take up the matter on Friday.

Recently, there was delay on the part of Uttar Pradesh authorities in releasing 13 prisoners who were granted interim bail by top court on July 8. These convicts were in Agra jail for 14 to 22 years, and they were granted bail after it was found that they were juveniles at the time of offence. It was contended that convicts continued to remain incarcerated, though there was a clear-cut finding of them being minor.

On July 13, the advocate representing the convicts had informed the top court that 12 have been released a day ago and one would be released on the date.

According to a senior official, the top court took note of the reports that there was a delay in the release of the convicts from Agra jail, after they were granted bail.

On Friday, the top court will also examine the situation in connection with its May 8 order in another suo motu case of 2020, which was taken up to decongest prisons to contain the spread of Covid-19 in prisons.

In May, a bench headed by the Chief Justice had passed a slew of directions to decongest prisons and had ordered immediate release of prisoners who were granted bail or parole last year.

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