DIMAPUR: District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) under the purview of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) conducted the 2nd quarterly meetings of the Under Trial Review Committees (UTRCs) across districts for the April-June quarter.
During the period, 12 undertrial prisoners (UTPs) from Central Jail and 10 district jails in Nagaland were released. Out of a total of 333 UTPs (319 male and 14 female) and 111 convicts (110 male and 1 female) lodged in different jails across the state, 26 UTPs were found eligible for release under various categories. These cases were recommended, and DLSAs were directed to file bail or appropriate applications through panel lawyers. Following applications, 12 UTPs were released after bail was granted.
All prisoners were found to be represented either by legal aid counsel or private lawyers. The committees also reviewed the status of inmates requiring medical treatment, legal aid, and other related issues. At the district level, UTRC committees conducted 44 meetings during the quarter.
The releases were made under 16 categories of cases, including UTPs eligible under Section 436A CrPC/479 BNSS; first time offenders who had completed one third of their sentence and were eligible under Section 479 BNSS; UTPs granted bail by the court but unable to furnish sureties; UTPs accused of compoundable offences; UTPs eligible under Section 436 CrPC/478 BNSS; those covered under Section 3 of the Probation of Offenders Act or Section 360 CrPC/401 BNSS and eligible for release on probation of good conduct or admonition; convicts who had undergone their sentence or were entitled to remission; UTPs eligible for bail under Section 167(2)(a)(i) & (ii) CrPC/Section 187(3)(i) & (ii) BNSS read with Section 36A NDPS Act where investigation was not completed within 60/90/180 days; UTPs imprisoned for offences carrying a maximum punishment of two years; UTPs detained under preventive sections of CrPC (Sections 107, 108, 109, 151) and BNSS (Sections 126, 127, 128, 170); UTPs who were sick or infirm requiring specialized medical treatment; women UTPs; first time offenders aged between 18 and 21 years in custody for offences punishable with less than seven years and who had undergone at least one fourth of the maximum sentence; UTPs of unsound mind to be dealt with under Chapter XXV CrPC/Chapter XXVII BNSS; UTPs eligible under Section 437(6) CrPC/480(6) BNSS where trial of a non bailable offence triable by a Magistrate had not concluded within 60 days from the first date fixed for evidence; and UTPs aged 70 years and above.
