Prepone Summer Vacations, Grant Interim Bail To Undertrials: High Court Bar Association, Allahabad Requests Acting CJ, Allahabad HC

In view of the recent surge in the COVID cases, the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad has written a letter to the Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Sanjay Yadav asking him to consider preponing summer vacation so that the spread of COVID-19 may be contained.The letter also requests that ACJ to grant interim bail for at least 8 weeks to all the undertrials who are in jail in relation to matters punishable with up to 10 years.The letter states,"There is immense pressure on our High Court and District Courts in pending bail matters which even in these troubled times need to be addressed in view of the issue of human liberty and Article 21 of our Constitution." The letter also submits that if fixed period interim bail is granted then the same shall result in saving many human lives of not only the undertrials but also the judicial staff who at present times are also COVID warriors.Further, the letter adds,"Pressure on our already overburdened judicial system will get released and lawyers who are an important component of the judicial system will also get some much needed respite".The letter requests the ACJ to immediately call for Jail wise report from the Government as to the number of inmates who could be given immediate relief.In related news, observing that many Kashmiri prisoners locked up in different jails outside Kashmir are contracting COVID, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHBA) yesterday urged the Govt. Of India and UT Of J&K administration to either shift Kashmiri detainees to the nearest jails in the Kashmir valley or release them on parole.The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHBA) on Sunday expressed serious concerns over the health conditions of "hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in different jails in India".further, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has informed the High Court that it is taking all relevant steps to ensure that all prisoners, whether convicted or under-trial, are inoculated against the Covid-19 virus.Advocate General DC Raina last week informed a Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal that the government is conscious of its obligation and appropriate steps are being taken for the vaccination of all the citizens including under-trial as well as convicted prisoners.The Orissa High Court last week passed significant directions to ensure that all inmates lodged in prisons of the State are vaccinated against the deadly Covid-19 virus.A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar and Justice BP Routray was hearing two petitions concerning various issues persistent in the jails in Orissa.Also, The Gauhati High Court has asked the State Government to file its response within 3 weeks, on a suo moto PIL concerning the jail inmates, who are allegedly not being vaccinated in the state of Assam.Registering the matter as a suo moto PIL (pursuant to a letter sent by an NGO, Nilima Studio) the Bench of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Kalyan Rai Surana, issued this order.Click Here To Download LetterRead Letter

Prepone Summer Vacations, Grant Interim Bail To Undertrials: High Court Bar Association, Allahabad Requests Acting CJ, Allahabad HC

Sparsh Upadhyay

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