The bench comprising of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh was hearing the petition relating to the extension of interim bails to the Under Trial Prisoners lodged in various jails in Delhi. The Court declined to further extend the period of interim bail of 3499 UTPs granted under various criteria laid down by the High Powered Committee in its several meetings.
In an attempt to decongest the overcrowded jail during the COVID 19 pandemic the Court on the basis of the recommendation of the High Power Committee had extended the interim bails granted to the accused lodged in Delhi Jails.
In view of the improved situation of COVID 19 in Delhi NCR and directions passed by the Supreme Court its order dated 01.03.2021 in SLP (C) Nos. 13021/2020, the Court refused to further extend the period of interim bail of 3499 UTPs.
The 3499 UTP’s who were granted interim bails as per various criteria laid down by the High-Powered Committee and have not obtained regular bails needs to surrender before the Jail Superintendent(S) upon the expiry of the period of their interim bail commencing from 07.03.2021.
The Court also clarified that as the 3499 Under Trial Prisoners were admitted to interim bails on different dates, therefore, the period of their interim bails will expire with efflux of time on different dates. Therefore, there is no requirement to fix any specific date for the surrender of these 3499 Under Trial Prisoners.
The Court also observed that all these Under Trial Prisoners may invoke the jurisdiction of the concerned Court for grant of regular bail. The concerned Courts on the filing of applications by such Under Trial Prisoners may consider the same on merits, in accordance with the law.
