NEW DELHI: Today,(28th Jan): The Union government has decided not to act on the Supreme Court’s suggestion to create a separate law on bail. The government believes that the recent changes in criminal laws, especially the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which came into effect in July 2024, already address the concerns about pre-trial detention and related issues.
The Supreme Court granted bail to Vijay Nair, Aam Aadmi Party’s member accused in the excise policy scandal after 23 months in custody. The Court criticized the delay in trial by the Enforcement Directorate and emphasized that pre-trial detention should not serve as punishment. The case involves alleged irregularities in the excise policy and money laundering.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA, has announced the 2024 schedule for Quarterly Undertrial Review Committee (QURC) meetings. These meetings aim to review prisoner cases and recommend releases, following Supreme Court directives. The announcement emphasizes the need for timely justice delivery and the importance of UTRCs in preventing extended pre-trial detentions.
