Modi govermment may help undertrials left in the lurch by court

A commission appointed to look into their plight has recommended that the maximum period of wait for an undertrial should be brought down from half to one-third of the maximum period of punishment for his crime. It may be accepted by the government.

Thus, if an inmate who has spent more than years in prison for a crime ,which can lead to his imprisonment for a maximum period of seven years, will become a free man if the government gives a nod to this proposal .

The commission has also recommended some other amendments to the old laws which have done more harm than good to the common people.

A government spokesman said here on Wednesday that the recommendations were under the active consideration of the law department which would come out with its version soon. He gave the present number of undertrials as 2,8 crores.

The commission headed by B S Chauhan has examined at length section 436 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code which dealt with undertrials.

In the commission's opinion the new maxim should be, maximum on bail than in jail.

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