Supreme Court

SC Fast-Tracks Release Process Of Undertrials Who Served ⅓ Of Term

The Supreme Court has ruled that Section 479 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) will be applied retroactively, offering relief to undertrial prisoners and first-time offenders.

Under this section, those who have completed one-third of their maximum possible sentence as undertrials will be eligible for bail.

This decision was made while addressing issues of prison overcrowding. The BNSS, which replaced the outdated Criminal Procedure Code on July 1, 2024, will now apply to all cases registered before this date. However, the provision does not extend to undertrials accused of serious crimes, such as those punishable by death or life sentences.

Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta directed jail superintendents across the country to process bail applications from eligible undertrials within 3 months. “We direct implementation of Section 479 BNSS by calling upon superintendents of jails across the country to process the pleas of the undertrials when they comply with the proviso of this provision,” the Court stated.

The Centre confirmed that the BNSS, along with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, would apply to cases filed before their official implementation on July 1, 2024.

The bench, which previously criticized states for their handling of prison overcrowding, has asked them to file an affidavit detailing the number of undertrials eligible for release and those who have been released under this new provision. The case will be reviewed again in two months.

Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International

Meera Verma

Recent Posts

Punjab & Haryana HC Notice To Jindal Law School Over AI-Generated Exam Claims

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday has issued a notice to Jindal Global…

1 hour ago

ED Files Money Laundering Complaint Against Charanjit Singh Bajaj, 4 Others

The ED on Tuesday has filed a Prosecution Complaint before the Special Court in Mohali…

2 hours ago

Pune Porsche Case: SC Rejects Anticipatory Bail To Father Of Minor Driver’s Friend

The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied bail to Arunkumar Devnath Singh, whose son is a…

3 hours ago

SC Dumps Plea Against Quashing LOC For Sushant Singh Rajput’s Ex-House Help

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the Centre's appeal against a Bombay High Court order…

3 hours ago

Rape Case: SC Issues Notice On Ex-Army Officer’s Plea For Quashing Charge sheet

The Supreme Court on Tuesday has agreed to review a plea from retired Army Captain…

4 hours ago

Chhattisgarh NAN Scam: FIR Against 2 Retired IAS Officers, Former AG

The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday has registered a case against 2 retired IAS officers…

4 hours ago