MP High Court Seeks Report On Legal Aid Provided To Undertrial Prisoners, Convicts In Filing Bail Applications, Appeals & Revisions

While hearing a murder convict who had also sought condonation of delay of 850 days in filing appeal against trial court judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has sought answer from District Legal Services Authority, Rewa as to why legal aid was not provided to the convict immediately. In doing so, the Court observed that this was a "reflection of working of legal aid in the State" and further directed the State Legal Services Authority to call for report from Superintendents of jails in the State regarding legal aid provided to the under trial prisoners/convicts.While condoning the delay, a division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Devnarayan Mishra in its order observed, “This appeal is admitted for final hearing. It is a reflection on the working of Legal Aid in the State. Let report be called for from the concerned Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Rewa that why legal aid was not provided to the convict immediately. Let Superintendent of Central Jail, Rewa also inform that why legal aid was not provided to the appellant immediately so to facilitate timely filing of the appeal. Secretary, State Legal Services Authority is also directed to call for the report from all the Superintendents of jails in the State of Madhya Pradesh in regard to legal aid provided to the under trial/convicts in the matter of filing bail applications/appeals/revisions.”As per the factual matrix of the case, the appellant was convicted for the offences punishable under Section 302 (Murder), 307 (Attempt to Murder), 354 (Outraging the modesty of a woman/34 (Common intention) IPC & 25/27 (Punishment for using arms) of the Arms Act. Thus, an appeal was filed before the High Court stating that the trial court failed to appreciate the ocular and documentary available on record in its correct perspective and that the appellant was innocent and falsely implicated. Thus, through the appeal, it was prayed that the judgement and sentence passed by the Sessions Judge be set aside.During the hearing on April 28, an application was filed seeking condonation of delay of 850 days in filing the appeal. Noting that the appellant was a poor person having no source of earning and no immediate family to take care, the Court allowed the application.The matter is listed for further hearing on May 15.Case Title: Mohd. Aslam Vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh, CRA No. 3975 Of 2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

MP High Court Seeks Report On Legal Aid Provided To Undertrial Prisoners, Convicts In Filing Bail Applications, Appeals & Revisions

Anukriti Mishra

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