HC directs courts to expedite 554 trials

Hearing a PIL filed by social worker Shaliesh Gandhi on number of undertrials languishing in jails across the state, the Bombay high court on Friday directed the magistrate and sessions courts to expedite 554 trials, which involves over 11,000 undertrials who have been in prison for at least three years.

The division bench of justice JN Patel and justice Amjad Sayed directed the registrar general to issue a circular regarding it in two weeks.

The list submitted by additional public prosecutor Poornima Kantharia says the Thane prison has 2,210 undertrials, Yerwada (1,650), Arthur Road (1,248), Byculla (142), Mumbai district women prison (292) and Taloja prison (500).