Guwahati, July 16 (NKTV):The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that all prisoners who have been released by the high powered committees of states in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic pursuant to the May 7 order in the suo moto case should not be asked to surrender until further orders. The Top court also directed all state governments to submit a report before it by next friday detailing how the May 7 order was implemented and the criteria adopted by the HPCs to release the prisoners on emergency parole taking note of the Covid-19 situation.
The bench observed that there is no uniform criteria across the states. The states have to explain if they have considered factors like age, comoborbidities while granting parole. The states should also explain if prisoners whose appeals are pending in higher courts were also considered for release by HPCs. The court has also directed the secretary of the national legal services authority to collect the details from the states. The matter will be next considered on August 3.