21/05/2023
🔴 UNDERTRIAL PRISONERS
- In News: SC asked the government to come up with measures for facilitating the release of undertrials and those convicted of minor offences to celebrate 75th year of independence.
- Undertrial Prisoner: is one who has been arrested for some crime who is waiting to appear before the magistrate.
- Important Data: Lower courts are burdened with more than 4 CR pending cases and 76% of prisoners in jails are undertrials [NCRB 2020]
🔺 VARIOUS CHALLENGES FACED
✓ Abuses faced in jail
✓ Criminalizing impacts
✓ Human rights violation
✓ Suffering of the families
✓ No Right to Speedy Trial
✓ Right to bail is denied even in genuine cases
✓ Non-compliance by the officials
🔺WAY FORWARD
✓ Going digital
✓ Investigation reforms
✓ Associated judicial reforms
✓ Separation prisons
✓ Limited extension of remands
✓ Separate courts for certain offence