Undertrial prisoners: HC orders to end trials of 139 by Aug 31

The High Court today directed the trial courts concerned to finish the trial proceedings of the cases by August 31 against 139 undertrial prisoners who are suffering in 68 jails across the country for more than seven years.

The prisoners are accused in different criminal cases including killing charges.

The lower courts concerned have been asked to submit the reports on the progress of the trial proceedings to the Supreme Court monitoring committee if they fail to finish the trial by Aug 31.

The HC ordered the respective investigation officers (IOs) to ensure the presence of the witnesses to the lower courts for settling the cases.

The government authorities concerned have been asked to take departmental actions against the IOs if they fail to ensure the witnesses’ presence.The HC also directed the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police across the country to provide necessary assistance in finishing the trial proceedings.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim came up with the order on a suo moto (voluntary) move after Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee panel lawyer Advocate Kumar Debul Dey prayed to the court for necessary order.

The committee prepared the case details of the 139 undertrial prisoners after examining dockets of cases against total 256 prisoners who are in jails for more than seven years in different criminal cases.

On November 19 last year, the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee sent a letter to the jail authorities seeking a list of the undertrial prisoners. 

The authorities on December 31 last year submitted the list of 256 undertrial prisoners to the legal aid committee.