SUPREME COURT ORDERS TO RELEASE PRISONERS

Prelims level : Polity and Governance – Judiciary Mains level : GS-II Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
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Why in News?

  • Supreme Court has recently passed orders in a suo-motu hearing on measures taken to decongest prisons, correction homes and detention centres due to the outbreak of pandemic Covid-19 outbreak.

Highlights of the Judgement:

  • The Bench had already passed orders to the States and the Union Territories to set up special committees in order to examine the cases of prisoners and shortlist those who could be granted bail or parole.
  • The Court ordered that appropriate tests for Covid-19 should be conducted on prisoners scheduled for release.
  • The court directed that transportation of prisoners would be done in full compliance of the rules and norms of social distancing.
  • In case a prisoner who has been released is suffering from coronavirus after the release, he/she shall be put in an appropriate quarantine facility by the concerned Authorities.

Judgement regarding Foreigners’ Detention Centres:

  • The court ordered to release prisoners or detenus who have been under detention for two years in the foreigners’ detention centres in Assam on account of the Coronavirus pandemic.
  • The court modified its earlier order to allow these detenus to furnish a bond of Rs. 5,000 instead of Rs. 1 lakh. The Court also asked them to furnish two Indian citizens as sureties.
  • But the central government has  objected to their release on the grounds that they will mix with the local population again.
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