[COVID-19] Delhi HC extends period of interim bail for 2177 undertrial prisoners by another period of 45 days

The Delhi High Court has extended the period of release for 2177 undertrial prisoners, who were earlier released on interim bail in a bid to decongest city jails. (Court on its own motion vs State - Interim bail extension)

The release has been now been extended by another 45 days from the date of expiry of their interim bails.

. An order to this effect was passed today by a Division Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh after a recommendation to extend interim bail period was made by the High Powered Committee set up to monitor the situation of jails during COVID-19.

. The Committee had laid down several criterion for grant of interim bail to undertrial prisoners to decongest jails.

.Coronavirus: Criteria for release of undertrial prisoners on interim bail relaxed to decongest Delhi Jails.COVID-19: 45 days interim bail to be granted to Delhi under-trial Prisoners suffering from HIV, Cancer, TB, Asthma etc to decongest jails. In its meeting held on May 5, the Committee had noted that the period of 45 days of interim bail to undertrial prisoners was going to expire from May 9 onwards.

. Given the fact that the status of the pandemic was still the same and lockdown had also been extended, the Committee had recommended that interim bail which was extended to 2177 UTPs be extended for a further period of 45 days.

. Since it was not possible to move individual applications before concerned courts for extension, the matter was placed before the High Court for an appropriate order.

Director General (Prisons), as well as the Delhi Police, did not object to the extension of interim bail period.

. The Court accordingly ordered,

. ..the interim bails for a period of 45 days granted to 2177 UTPs, in view of the recommendations of HPC dated 28.03.2020, 07.04.2020 and 18.04.2020 and on the basis of orders in WP (C) No.2945/2020 titled as “Shobha Gupta & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors.” are hereby extended by another period of 45 days from the date of their respective expiry of interim bails on the same terms and conditions. Delhi High Court . The Court has directed Director General (Prisons) to ensure that the order is conveyed to all the 2177 UTPs by telephone, as well as, through all other available modes.

. Read the Order:

[COVID-19] Delhi HC extends period of interim bail for 2177 undertrial prisoners by another period of 45 days

Aditi Singh

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