Hussainara Khatoon & Ors Vs. Home
Secretary, State of Bihar, Govt. of Bihar, Patna [1979] INSC 101 (4 May 1979)
BHAGWATI, P.N.
BHAGWATI, P.N.
REDDY, O. CHINNAPPA (J)
CITATION: 1979 AIR 1819 1979 SCR (3)1276 1980
SCC (1) 115
ACT:
Constitution of India, 1950-Art. 21-Necessity
of Speedy trial of undertrial prisoners.
HEADNOTE:
Ordinarily when a person is accused of more
than one offence, the sentences of imprisonment imposed are directed to run
concurrently but assuming the sentences of imprisonment be consecutive, the
undertrial prisoners here have suffered incarceration for the maximum period
for which they could be sent to jail on conviction for multiple offences. There
is absolutely no reason why the under trials be allowed to continue in jail for
a moment longer since such continuance of detention would be violative not only
of human dignity but also of their fundamental right under Art.
21 of the Constitution. [1277A-C] [The Court
directed the High Court to submit information regarding the location of Courts,
the number of cases pending in each of them and the reasons for the delay in
disposal of cases to enable it to give necessary direction for setting up more
Courts, appointing additional Judges and providing more facilities by way of
staff and equipment so as to ensure fulfillment of the fundamental right of the
accused to speedy trial under Art. 21 of the Constitution.]
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition No. 57
of 1978.
Mrs. K. Hingorani for the Petitioners.
U. P. Singh for the Respondent.
The Order of the Court was delivered by
BHAGWATI, J.-This Writ Petition has come up for further directions. Mr. U. P.
Singh, on behalf of the State of Bihar, has pointed out that the Order made by
us on 19th April, 1979 directing release of Sukhan Sah and Ganga Prasad, being
under-trial prisoners detained in Bhagalpur Central Jail and mentioned in the
list furnished by Mrs.
Hingorani on 16th April, 1979, is not
correct, since on further scrutiny it is found that they do not fall within the
category of under-trial prisoners who have been in jail for a period longer
than the maximum term for which they could have been sentenced, if convicted.
We therefore, recall our Order directing release of Sukhan Sah and Ganga
Prasad. Their cases will be considered by us again when the Writ Petition is
taken up for final hearing on the reopening of the Court after the summer
vacation.
1277 Mrs. Hingorani has handed over to us a
list of under- trial prisoners who are accused of multiple offences and who
have already been in jail for the maximum term for which they could be
sentenced on conviction, even if the sentences awarded to them were consecutive
and not concurrent. Now ordinarily when a person is accused of more offences
than one, the sentences of imprisonment imposed on him are directed to run
concurrently, but even on the assumption that the sentences of imprisonment may
be consecutive, these undertrial prisoners, mentioned in the list of Mrs. Hingorani,
have already suffered incarceration for the maximum period for which they could
have been sent to jail on conviction. There is absolutely no reason why they
should be allowed to continue to remain in jail for a moment longer, since such
continuance of detention would be clearly violative not only of human dignity
but also of their fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. We,
therefore, direct that these under-trial prisoners be released forthwith.
We have also before us a list of under-trial
prisoners furnished by Mrs. Hingorani, which gives the names and particulars of
those under-trial prisoners who are accused of multiple offences and who have
been in jail for a period longer than the maximum for which they could be
sentenced on conviction on the basis of the sentences being concurrent, though,
if the sentences of imprisonment imposed on them on conviction were directed to
run consecutively, their detention as under-trial prisoners could not be said
to have exceeded the maximum term. We do not for the time being, direct them to
be released unconditionally but when they are produced before the Magistrates
or the Courts of Session, they may be released on bail on executing a personal
bond of Rs. 50/- only, without any surety and without any verification of
financial solvency. We direct that a copy of this Order, may be sent through
the High Court of Patna to the Magistrates and Courts of Session before whom
the cases of these undertrial prisoners are pending, so that the necessary
orders granting bail may be passed by them in favour of these under-trial
prisoners at the earliest. The High Court may obtain a compliance report from
the Magistrates and Courts of Session and submit the same to us by the middle
of June, 1979.
We pointed out in our earlier Judgment dated
9th March, 1979 that speedy trial is a part of the fundamental right guaranteed
under Article 21 and in order to enforce this fundamental right, it was
necessary to have particulars as to the location of the Courts of Magistrates
1278 and Courts of Session in the State of Bihar together with the total number
of cases pending in each of these courts as on 31st December, 1978 giving year
wise break-up of such pending cases and also explaining why it has not been
possible to dispose of such of those cases as have been pending for more than
six months. We, therefore, by our order dated 9th March, 1979 called for these
particulars from the High Court of Patna and pursuant to our directions, the
High Court has sent these particulars in a detailed chart and also intimated to
us what are the norms of disposals fixed by the High Court for each Court of
Magistrate and Sessions Judge. But this information given to us by the High
Court is not enough. We should also like to know from the High Court how many
more Courts and Judges are necessary and at which places, for ensuring the
fundamental right of speedy trial to the accused in the State, having regard to
the pending file and the average inflow of cases and the norm of disposals
fixed for each Court of Magistrate and Sessions Judge by the High Court. The
High Court should also inform us what further facilities by way of staff and
equipment are necessary in the Courts of Magistrates and Courts of Session, the
lack of which is responsible for delays in disposal of criminal cases and is
hampering the realisation of the fundamental right of speedy trial. This
additional information, which of course would have to be worked out on the
basis of a proper and careful analysis and appraisal of the existing and
anticipated filing of cases, should be forwarded to this Court by the High
Court by 30th June, 1979 in five sets and out of these five sets, one should be
handed over to Mrs. Hingorani and the other to Mr. U. P. Singh, on behalf of
the State of Bihar. If the State of Bihar wishes to contest the correctness of the
information supplied by the High Court or the validity of the proposal made by
the High Court, the State of Bihar may file an affidavit in reply on or before
20th July, 1979.
This Court will then decide, on the basis of
the material placed before it, as to what directions are necessary to be given
for setting up more courts, appointing additional judges and providing more
facilities by way of staff and equipment, so as to ensure fulfilment of the
fundamental right of the accused to speedy trial under Article 21 of the
Constitution.
The Writ Petition will now come up for final
hearing on 24th July, 1979.
N.K.A.
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