PM Modi highlights plight of undertrial prisoners languishing in jails
Satya Prakash
New Delhi, July 30
Highlighting the plight of undertrial prisoners languishing in jails, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) to expedite their release.
Addressing the first ‘All India District Legal Services Authorities Meet’ at Vigyan Bhawan, Modi said DLSAs should use their position as chairpersons of undertrial review committees to secure the release of undertrial prisoners.
Describing the high number of undertrial prisoners as a “grave” issue affecting the criminal justice system, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana had on July 16 said 6.10 lakh prisoners were there in 1,378 prisons across India and they were one of the most vulnerable sections of our society. Out of 6.10 lakh prisoners in the country, nearly 80 per cent are undertrial prisoners.
On Saturday, Justice Ramana urged the judiciary to use modern technological tools to enhance the pace of justice delivery. “Justice: Social, Economic and Political – that is the vision of justice which our Preamble promises to every Indian. The reality is, today, only a small percentage of our population can approach the justice delivery system, when in need. A majority of the people suffer in silence, lacking awareness and necessary means,” the CJI said.
Noting that citizens have immense faith in the judiciary, Modi said access to the judicial system was equally important for delivery of justice in any society. “This is the time for the resolutions that will take the country to new heights in the next 25 years. Like Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, Ease of Justice is equally important in this Amrit Yatra of the country,” the PM said.
Recalling how the Supreme Court spoke on several occasions on the need to be sensitive towards the humanitarian issue of undertrial prisoners, Modi DLSAs can take up the responsibility of providing legal aid to such prisoners.
He praised the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for undertaking a campaign for the release of undertrial prisoners and said the Bar Council should encourage more lawyers to get involved in such campaign.
Describing NALSA as the largest legal aid provider in the world, the CJI said many of its objectives have been translated into social realities due to sincere efforts of dedicated judges and advocates.
Justice DY Chandrachud, who heads the e-committee of the Supreme Court, highlighted the impact of technology on furthering access to justice to citizens of India.
“During this year up to 28 July 2022, our eTaal (Electronic Transaction Aggregation & Analysis Layer) website has recorded 250 crores e-transactions. Up to 30 April 2022, 5.46 crore automated emails have been sent to citizens. 35 lakh hits are recorded daily on the e-court service mobile application. 19.2 million cases were heard on video conferences by the High Courts and the District Courts as of 30 April 2022. 1.78 crore cases have been disposed of by virtual courts. The national judicial data grid has data of 17 crore decided and pending cases,” Justice Chandrachud said.
There are a total of 676 DLSAs in the country, each headed by the District Judge. NALSA implements various legal aid and awareness programmes through DLSAs and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs).
The two-day meeting of DLSAs, organised by the NALSA, is being attended by over 1200 delegates across India. Besides Modi and Ramana, the inaugural session was attended by Supreme Court judges UU Lalit, DY Chandrachud, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Minister of State for Law SPS Baghel.
