The plight of undertrial prisoners languishing in jail for legal aid unsettled was highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the All India District Legal Services Authorities meet on Saturday.
PM Modi today called for legal aid to be extended to such prisoners to help them secure their release.
The PM urged judges at the district level to use their position in the District Level Undertrial Review Committees for speeding up release of undertrial prisoners.
Modi added, “There are so many undertrials who are left in jails without any legal help and remedy. I urge the District Judges to use their position in the District Level Undertrial Review Committee and speed up their release from the jails. I hope it will be a success by taking help of legal aid.”
The function also saw Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana, Supreme Court judges Justice U.U. Lalit and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud along with the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju speak.
Article 39A which lays down the State’s duty to promote free legal aid was highlighted by the PM.
The PM spoke at length about the initiatives for improving the judicial infrastructure taken by the government.
“We have worked relentlessly to improve the judicial infrastructure over the last 8 years and about Rs 9,000 crore have been spent to bolster judicial infrastructure,” he said.
The PM’s speech touched various other aspects and projects pertaining to E-courts project and the video conference hearings during the pandemic year.
PM Modi also spoke at length about the E-court mission which has led to virtual courts being set up. There is also video conferencing facility in courts. “I am told 1 crore cases have been heard digitally in district courts and over 60 lakh cases were heard virtually in High Court and Supreme Court,” the PM said.