NALSA Co-ordinates With State Units To Assist People For Alleviating The Sufferings Amid COVID 19 Pandemic

Giving an account of the progress made so far, NALSA has disclosed that it has provided aid in the release of over 10,000 under trial prisoners and more than 5 thousand convicts from detention, as per the directions of the Supreme Court to decongest prisons.

In this regard it was intimated through a press note that:

• Assistance is being provided to prisoners through its panel lawyers;
• Legal Services Authorities are assisting the High powered Committee in identifying under trials who could be released on bail during the pandemic;
• Bail applications are also being filed on their behalf by the legal aid counsels;
• Meetings are being held with the under trial review Committees to identify UTPs who are entitled to the benefit under section 436A of CrPC.

The above steps are being undertaken in coordination with all the State Legal Services Authorities as well as the District Legal Services Authorities.

Section 436A provides that an under trial prisoner who has undergone detention for a period extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for the alleged offence (except where one of the punishments is death penalty), has to be released by the Court on execution of a personal bond.

Inter alia, Justice N.V Ramana, Executive Chairman of NALSA has instructed the authorities to do the needful for providing assistance to victims of the lockdown, keeping in view the lockdown guidelines.

To this end, issues like shortage of food, migrant labourers stranded at places away from their home state, denial of wages, etc., are being addressed by Panel lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers in close co-ordination with the District administration.

As far as incidents of violence, especially against women, are concerned, NALSA has requested all the State Legal Services Authorities to co-ordinate with the One Stop Centres of the Ministry of Women and Child to provide legal assistance to such women.

Read Press Note