Court starts special hearing to release undertrials

In a bid to decongest over-crowded prisons in the capital, a Delhi court today conducted a special hearing to facilitate release of
undertrials languishing in jails in connection with petty
offences.
  
Union law minister M Veerappa Moily and Delhi high court justice Madan B Lokur witnessed the special court proceedings, undertaken in pursuance of a recent government plan to release on bail the offenders involved in petty offences.

"1.74 lakh undertrials are languishing in several jails in the country and such attempts would help in decongestion of jails," Moily told reporters outside the courtroom.

There are plans to ensure that at least two third of such undertrials are freed by July this year, the minister said, appreciating the efforts undertaken by the high court and the Delhi legal services authority.
  
Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Ajay Pandey, who is to hear over 40 such cases today, has so far ordered release of six such offenders.

Moily had on January 25 said that up to 70 per cent of over three lakh undertrials in the country can be released or granted bail under a new government scheme, which is being implemented in consonance with the various high courts of the country and is aimed at decongesting jails.

There are 1500 jails in the country with a capacity to house two lakh prisoners. But the total number of prisoners -- including undertrials -- is pegged at three lakh, Moily had said.