The Supreme Court said the underuse of open correctional institutions is a “very serious issue” even as prisons across states remain overcrowded. The Court plans to issue a detaailed mandate after noting states’ poor response on utilising open prisons.
The Bombay High Court emphasized that bail should be the norm in criminal cases, asserting that keeping individuals in jail without a trial constitutes pre-trial punishment. The court highlighted the urgent issue of overcrowded jails and underlined the essential principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
New Delhi – 5th May: The Supreme Court of India on Monday asked the Central Government and 18 states to respond to a petition filed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). The petition requested the release of elderly prisoners aged above 70 and terminally ill inmates on bail, especially those who have not approached the top court for relief after their bail pleas were denied.
Mumbai: Supreme Court Judge Abhay Oka has strongly criticized the Maharashtra government for not providing basic infrastructure to the judiciary. He pointed out that the situation in neighboring Karnataka is very different. Justice Oka, who was earlier a judge in the Bombay High Court and later the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court, made these remarks at the Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture.
Justice B.R. Gavai highlighted the critical role of judicial ethics and integrity at a conference in Gujarat, stressing that a judge’s conduct affects public trust. He warned that resigning to contest elections could harm perceptions of impartiality and emphasized the judiciary’s independence from other branches to maintain credibility and prevent justice delays.