High court lens on UTPs still in prison despite getting bail

Cuttack: The Orissa high court on Friday sought a status report by April 22 from Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) on the release of prisoners who are languishing in jails and have been unable to avail bail despite being granted the same by the courts.
The division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice M S Raman issued the direction after OSLSA member secretary Sudipta Acharya admitted that 444 undertrial prisoners (UTP)s belong to this category.
The issue with regard to UTPs who have got bail but are incapable to furnish bail bonds was raised while the court was hearing a public interest litigation on overcrowding and other problems in jails. The PIL was filed by Krushna Prasad Sahoo in 2006.
Amicus curiae Gautam Mishra said there is already a Supreme Court order which says that whenever prisoners are unable to furnish the bail bonds, they should be released on personal recognisance bond (PR Bond).
Acharya, who attended the hearing via video link, said several of the UTPs could not be released despite being granted bail as they are accused in multiple cases.
In view of the seriousness and urgency of the matter, the division bench asked the member secretary, OSLSA, “To hold an online meeting with the secretary of district legal service authorities within a week so as to ensure the Supreme Court directions are duly complied with.”