HC orders release of 73 prisoners

: The Madras High Court today ordered release of 73 prisoners languishing in various prisons across Tamil Nadu even after having obtained bail, but unable to furnish surety.
Disposing off a petition, a Division Bench, comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and M Venugopal directed their release on bail after a self executed bond before the court concerned.
The prisoners to be released are from Puzhal (26), Vellore (six), Tiruchirapalli (17), Tiruchirapalli (Women-three), Salem (seven), Coimbatore (one), Palayamkottai (six) and Madurai (seven).
P Senthil Kumar, in his petition prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to take necessary action to release on bail the prisoners languishing in prisons in Tamil Nadu for a long time, without insisting on any surety.

A Bench on Dec 23, 2011, had directed DGP (Prisons) to get details of the accused, who despite being granted bail, were still languishing in prisons due to non-furnishing of sureties to the satisfaction of the court concerned.
Accordingly, a statement was filed stating that most bail orders granted by lower courts were not followed by prisons concerned and details of such prisoners was also filed.
Following another order passed by the court on Jan 8, 2013, Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority and SPs of all prisons submitted that there are about 163 prisoners languishing in jail, even after grant of bail.

The bench cited many Supreme Court judgements and said that considering the gravity of offences, it is ordering the release of 73 prisoners on bail after a self executed bond before the court concerned.