146 Undertrials in J&K Jails Serving 7 Year Term

Srinagar: As many as 146 undertrials are lodged in jails across Jammu & Kashmir for offences for which quantum of punishment is up to 7 years, sources said.

Prisons department has collected details about the inmates involved in crimes for which prescribed punishment is upto seven years. “Around 146 jail inmates are undergoing trial in offences having seven years or less punishment,” they said, adding that they are lodged in 14 jails of UT.

According to a report, these cases are apart from convicts and PSA detainees lodged in jails in and outside of Jammu & Kashmir.

“The cases of PSA detainees would either be considered by the panel or would be looked separately by Home Department,” they said, adding that review of cases of PSA detainees is a continuous process.

Most of those booked under PSA were arrested after the BJP-led Central government abrogated J&K’s special status on August 5.

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As already reported, all states and Union Territories including J&K have been directed by the Supreme Court to set up a high-powered committee to consider the release of prisoners who have been convicted or are under trial for offences for which prescribed punishment is up to 7 years or less.

The committee would be headed by Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra and comprise chairman State Legal Service Authority Justice Rajesh Bindal and Director General Prisons V.K. Singh.

On March 23, the Supreme Court had directed all states to consider releasing prisoners facing sentences of up to seven years in order to decongest prisons in light of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (KNO)

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