Undertrials Freed To Decongest Jails – Economics

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CURRENT AFFAIR

Around 11,077 undertrials have been released from prisons nationwide – National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
Mission to decongest jails following the Covid-19 pandemic.

All States and Union Territories to set up high-level panels
To consider releasing all convicts who have been jailed for upto seven years on parole
To decongest jails in an attempt to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
Suggested that undertrials awaiting for offences entailing maximum sentence of seven years also be extended a similar benefit.

NALSA has been providing assistance to prisoners who are eligible to be released on parole or interim bail under the relaxed norms, through its panel of lawyers.
Local legal services authorities are actively assisting the high-level panels for identifying undertrials who could be released on bail during the present scenario.
Till now, responses received from 232 districts reflect that around 11,077 undertrials and 5,981 convicts have been released.

Statutory Body
Constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
To provide free legal services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats (an alternative dispute redressal mechanism) for amicable settlement of disputes.
Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 prescribes the criteria for giving legal services to the eligible persons.

Article 39A : Article 39A comes under the Part IV (DPSP) of Constitution of India
Deals the “Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid”.
Legal aid implies giving free legal service to the poor and ready who cannot afford the service of a lawyer for the concept of a case or a legal proceeding in any court.
Articles 14 and 22(1) make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.
Chairman: The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief and the second senior most Judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of the Authority.
At State and District Level: State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA.
In every District, the District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement legal services programmes in the district.
Role played by NALSA and its networks is very much relevant to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal-16
It seeks to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.