Thane: Administration launches campaign to review bail eligibility of over 375 undertrials in crowded jails – Times of India

THANE: Over 375 under trials eligible for bail – including young first time offenders and ailing – who are languishing inside Thane jails may see a ray of hope thanks to a specially designed campaign designed by the administration which will scrutinise their cases and plead the respective courts to facilitate their release, district officials said.
The initiative called the “Under Trial Review Committee Special Campaign- 2023” and is being started under the guidance of Principle District and Sessions Judge Abhay Mantri and the Thane District Legal Services Authority (TDLSA) for the next two months, informed TDLSA secretary, Ishwar Suryavanshi on Thursday.
A team of 10 dedicated lawyers and few para legal volunteers are being roped in for the initiative who will access, analyse records of inmates after coordinating with jail authorities and forward it to the committee comprising of Principal Thane District and Sessions Judge, Secretary of the Thane District Legal Services Authority, Thane District Magistrate, senior police officials, Public Prosecutor and jail superintendents.
The committee will analyse the cases and after consensus will forward them to the respective courts for considering release on bail of these under trials on bail as per norms or by modifying certain conditions as applicable.
“Many inmates eligible for release on bail are still inside due to various reasons. We are also assisting prisoners who are ailing or where charge-sheet is delayed. Also, cases where the under trial can be released under Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 will also be examined. Also, first time prisoners aged 19-21 years who have been sentenced to seven years but have completed a quarter of their term will also be considered. However, those lodged for serious offences like POCSO, murder, etc are not being considered,” said Suryavanshi.
The motive is not only to reduce the strain on the Thane jails including those at Taloja, Kalyan and Thane which are swelling beyond capacity but also to help release prisoners who are eligible for release but still inside due to various legal, technical reasons. We want their constitutional rights to be protected, said Suryavanshi. The committee will also coordinate to ensure that such under trials who are released on bail are accessible for hearings later.