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TMI Blog1979 (2) TMI 194X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tem which permits incarceration of men and women for such long periods of time without trial. We are shouting from house tops about the protection and enforcement of human rights. We are taking passionately and eloquently about the maintenance and preservation of basic freedoms. But, are we not denying human rights to these nameless persons who are languishing in jails for years for offences which perhaps they might ultimately be found not to have committed ? Are we not withholding basic freedoms from these neglected and helpless human beings who have been condemned to a life of imprisonment and degradation for years on end? Are expeditious trial and freedom from detention not part of human rights and basic freedoms ? Many of these unfortunate men and women must not even be remembering when they entered the jail and for what offence. They have over the years ceased to be human beings they are mere ticket-numbers. It is high time that the public conscience is awakened and the Government as well as the judiciary begin to realise that in the dark cells of our prisons there are large numbers of men and women who are waiting patiently, impatiently perhaps, but in vain, for justice-a com ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... o the poor by keeping them for long years in pretrial detention is our highly unsatisfactory bail system. It suffers from a property oriented approach which seems to proceed on the erroneous assumption that risk of monetary loss is the only deterrent against fleeing from justice. The Code of Criminal Procedure, even after its re-enactment, continues to adopt the same antiquated approach as the earlier Code enacted towards the end of the last century and where an accused is to be released on his personal bond, it insists that the bond should contain a monetary obligation requiring the accused to pay a sum of money in case he fails to appear at the trial. Moreover, as if this were not sufficient deterrent to the poor, the courts mechanically and as a matter of course insist that the accused should produce sureties who will stand bail for him and these sureties must again establish their solvency to be able to pay up the amount of the bail in case the accused fails to appear to answer the charge. This system of bails operates very harshly against the poor and it is only the non-poor who are able to take advantage of it by getting themselves released on bail. The poor find it difficult ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ecure the presence of the accused at the trial in quite a large number of cases. Moreover, the bail system causes discrimination against the poor since the poor would not be able to furnish bail on account of their poverty while the wealthier persons otherwise similarly situate would be able to secure their freedom because they can afford to furnish bail. This discrimination arises even if the amount of the bail is fixed by the Magistrate is not high, for a large majority of those who are brought before the Courts in criminal cases are so poor that they would find it difficult to furnish bail even in a small amount. The Gujarat Committee also pointed out how the practice of fixing the amount of bail with reference to the nature of the charge without taking into account relevant factors, such as the individual financial circumstances of the accused and the probability of his fleeing before trial, is harsh and oppressive and discriminates against the poor: The discriminatory nature of the bail system becomes all the more acute by reason of the mechanical way in which it is custormarily operated. It is no doubt true that theoretically the Magistrate has broad discretion in fixing the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... he poor, as easily as the rich to obtain pretrial release without jeopardizing the interest of justice. It is high time that our Parliament realises that risk of monetary loss is not the only deterrent against fleeing from justice, but there are also other factors which act as equal deterrents against fleeing. Ours is a socialist republic with social justice as the signature tune of our constitution and Parliament would do well to consider whether it would not be more consonant with the ethos of our constitution that instead of risk of financial loss, other relevant considerations such as family ties, roots in the community, job security, membership of stable organisations etc., should be the determinative factors in grant of bail and the accused should be in appropriate cases be released on his personal bond without monetary obligation. Of course, it may be necessary in such a case to provide by an amendment of the penal law that if the accused wilfully fails to appear in compliance with the promise contained in his personal bond, he shall be liable to penal action. But even under the law as it stands today the courts must abandon the antiquated concept under which pretrial releas ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... releasing the accused on his personal bond and particularly in cases where the offence is not grave and the accused is poor or belongs to a weaker section of the community, release on personal bond could, as far as possible, be preferred. But even while releasing the accused on personal bond it is necessary to caution the court that the amount of the bond which it fixes should not be based merely on the nature of the charge. The decision as regards the amount of the bond should be an individualised decision depending on the individual financial circumstances of the accused and the probability of his absconding. The amount of the bond should be determined having regard to these relevant factors and should not be fixed mechanically according to a schedule keyed to the nature of the charge. Otherwise, it would be difficult for the accused to secure his release even by executing a personal bond. Moreover, when the accused is released on his personal bond, it would be very harsh and oppressive if he is required to satisfy the court-and what we have said here in regard to the court must apply equally in relation to the police while granting bail-that he is solvent enough to pay the amoun ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... hin a reasonable time or to release pending trial. We think that even under our Constitution, though speedy trial is not specifically enumerated as a fundamental right, it is implicit in the broad sweep and content of Article 21 as interpreted by this Court in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India. We have held in that case that Article 21 confers a fundamental right on every person not to be deprived of his life or liberty except in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law and it is not enough to constitute compliance with the requirement of that Article that some semblance of a procedure should be prescribed by law, but that the procedure should be reasonable, fair and just . If a person is deprived of his liberty under a procedure which is not reasonable, fair or just , such deprivation would be violative of his fundamental right under Article 21 and he would be entitled to enforce such fundamental right and secure his release. Now obviously procedure prescribed by law for depriving a person of his liberty cannot be 'reasonable, fair or just' unless that procedure ensures a speedy trial for determination of the guilt of such person. No procedure which does not ensure a ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... aw is that imprisonment may follow a judgment of guilt. But should not precede it. But there is another principle which makes it desirable to ensure that the accused is present to receive his sentence in the event of being found guilty. Now, the Code of Criminal Procedure, both the old Code and the new, include provision for the release of a person on bail or on the execution of a bond without sureties for his appearance. Nonetheless, as appears prima facie from the record before us, a large number of persons whose names, find mention in copies of the Indian Express of January 8 and 9, 1979, have been in prison for long year without even being brought to trial. Although sufficient opportunity was given to the State of Bihar to meet the allegations made, it is unfortunate that no one has appeared on behalf of the State. In view of the importance of the questions arising on the habeas corpus petition, we have provided further opportunity to the State to appear and accordingly have posted the petition for final hearing on February 19, 1979. But at the same time we see no reason why interim relief should be denied to these undertrials. After carefully considering what has been said in ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ti Ram and Others v. State of Madhya Pradesh. I consider it desirable to refrain from making any final comment or observation on the legality and propriety of the continued detention of the undertrial prisoners whether on the ground of infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution or on other grounds. That, I think, should await the final determination of the habeas corpus petition. These are the reasons which have influenced me in making the order dated February 5, 1979. While concluding, it seems desirable to draw attention to the absence of an explicit provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure enabling the release, in appropriate cases, of an undertrial prisoner on his bond without sureties and without any monetary obligation. There is urgent need for a clear provision. Undeniably, the thousands of undertrial prisoners lodged in Indian prisons today include many who are unable to secure their release before trial because of their inability to produce sufficient financial guarantee for their appearance. Where that is the only reason for their continued incarceration, there may be good ground for complaining of invidious discrimination. The more so under a constitutional system ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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